High viscosity-index base stocks, base oils and lubricant compositions and methods for their production and use

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to base stocks and base oils that exhibit an unexpected combination of high viscosity index (130 or greater) and a ratio of measured-to-theoretical high-shear/low-temperature viscosity at −30C or lower and the methods of making them. Specifically, the present invention relates to low-volatility/low-viscosity lubricant base stocks, lubricant base stocks and base oils, formulated lubricant compositions or functional fluids comprising these base stocks and methods of making them. More particularly, this invention relates to lubricant compositions of low-temperature flow capability and low viscosity for passenger car motor lubricants of SAE 0W-XX grade (where XX=40 or lower), methods for optimizing fuel economy using the same, and methods or processes to produce them.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/416,865 filed Oct. 8, 2002 and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/432,488 filed Dec. 11, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to base stocks and base oils that exhibitan unexpected combination of high viscosity index (130 or greater), aratio of measured-to-theoretical high-shear/low-temperature viscosity at−30C or lower and the methods of making them. Specifically, the presentinvention relates to low-volatility/low-viscosity lubricant base stocks,lubricant base stocks and base oils, formulated lubricant compositionsor functional fluids comprising these base stocks and methods of makingthem. More particularly, this invention relates to lubricantcompositions of low-temperature flow capability and low viscosity forpassenger car motor lubricants of SAE 0W-XX grade (where XX=40 orlower), methods for optimizing fuel economy using the same, and methodsor processes to produce them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The API 1509 Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System,Appendix E, defines base stocks (as opposed to base oils and lubricantcompositions) as an hydrocarbon stream produced by a single manufacturerto the same specifications (independent of feed source or manufacturerslocation) and that is identified by a unique formula, productidentification number, or both. Base stocks may be manufactured using avariety of different processes including but not limited todistillation, solvent refining, hydrogen processing, oligomerization,esterification, and rerefining. Rerefined stock shall be substantiallyfree from materials introduced through manufacturing, contamination orprevious use. A base stock slate is a product line of base stocks thathave different viscosities but are in the same base stock grouping andfrom the same manufacturer. A base oil is the base stock or blend ofbase stocks used in formulated lubricant compositions. A lubricantcomposition may be a base stock, a base oil, either alone or mixed withother stocks, oils or functional additives.

[0004] The gasoline and diesel engine manufacturers in North America,Europe and Asia Pacific demand lubricants of increasingly higher qualityand higher performance. Both the North American and European automobilemanufacturers associations are regularly introducing new performancecategories that simultaneously reflect and stimulate improvements inlubricant quality and performance. Key performance areas are fueleconomy, longer drain intervals with extended performance retention,better soot handling, lower emissions, and improved low-temperatureperformance. Several of these performance features push the industry touse base stocks with lower viscosity, better oxidation stability, lowervolatility, higher saturates, lower sulphur, lower nitrogen, and loweraromatics.

[0005] In particular, reduced vehicle emissions are partially achievedby improved fuel economy and better low-temperature starting capability(C. J. May, J. J. Habeeb, A. M. White, Lubrication Engineering, 43 (7),557-567), both of which lower fuel consumption and consequently reducegaseous emissions. Low-viscosity SAE 0W-XX (where XX=40 or lower) gradelubricants can demonstrate both of these performance characteristics.FIG. 1 illustrates the relative improvements in fuel economy that can beachieved by low-viscosity lubricants compared to a typicalhigh-viscosity lubricant such as SAE 20W-50 (fuel economy improvementequal to 0.44% versus SAE 40 grade reference lubricant). For example,the SAE 0W-30 viscosity grade can achieve over 2.51% fuel economyimprovement versus the same reference lubricant.

[0006] Low-viscosity SAE 0W-XX grade lubricants can be made with avariety of low-viscosity base stocks and base oils. However, in general,as base oil viscosity decreases, the corresponding base oil volatilityincreases. High volatility may significantly constrain the use ofcertain low-viscosity base stocks and base oils in formulated lubricantproducts due to volatility limitations or severe performancerequirements of, for example, API, ILSAC, or ACEA product qualitystandards. The product volatility limits of API SL/ILSAC GF-3 and ACEAA1-02/B1-02 or ACEA A2-96 issue 3/B2-98 issue 2 (i.e. 15 wt % Noackvolatility) introduce some base oil limitations.

[0007] The lower volatility limits for formulated lubricants, of ACEAA3-02/B3-98 (13 wt % Noack volatility), coupled withvolatility/low-temperature viscosity profiles of current commercialhigh-quality, paraffinic base stocks (one example of which might be aGroup III base stocks and base oils), significantly restrict the numbersof base stocks that have sufficiently good low-temperature properties ontheir own to formulate to the viscosity and volatility limits of a SAE0W-XX grade without the use of expensive special co-base stocks and baseoils. Often, special co-base stocks and base oils may also have othersignificant disadvantages besides expense, such as limited supply, orperformance limitations in selected areas that may contribute to overallpoor performance of the formulated lubricant. A successful base oilwould provide the required low-temperature flow capability, the requiredhigh-temperature viscosity, and the required limited evaporative loss.In the past, only base stocks and base oils consisting largely orexclusively of synthesized polyalphaolefin hydrocarbon Group IV basestocks have been able to meet these specifications.

[0008] Tests used in describing lubricant compositions of this inventionare:

[0009] (a) CCS viscosity measured by Cold Cranking Simulator Test (ASTMD5293);

[0010] (b) Noack volatility (or evaporative loss) measured byCEC-L-40-A-93;

[0011] (c) Viscosity index (VI) measured by ASTM D2270;

[0012] (d) Theoretical viscosity calculated by Walther-MacCoull equation(ASTM D341 appendix 1);

[0013] (e) Kinematic viscosity measured by ASTM D445

[0014] (f) Pour point as measured by ASTM D5950.

[0015] (g) Scanning Brookfield Viscosity as measured by ASTM D5133

[0016] (h) Brookfield Viscosity as measured by ASTM D2983.

[0017] The inventors note that the Walther-MacCaull equation of ASTMD341 computes a theoretic kinematic viscosity, while the CCS reports anabsolute viscosity. To compute the ratio as used herein, the inventorsconverted the Walther-MacCaull viscosity as per equation (I).

Theoretical viscosity@T ₁(° C.)=Walther-MacCaull Calculated KinematicViscosity@T ₁(° C.)×Density at T ₁(° C.)  (I)

[0018] where T₁ is the desired temperature.

[0019] The density at −35° C. is estimated from the density at 20° C.using well-known formula. See, e.g., A. Bondi, “Physical Chemistry ofLubricating Oils”, 1951, p. 5.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 graphically illustrates the effects of lubricant viscosityon fuel economy improvement.

[0021]FIG. 2 graphically compares the measured CCS viscosities againstthe predicted Walther-MacCoull viscosities at various temperatures.

[0022]FIG. 3 graphically illustrates the viscosity versus Noackvolatility profiles for various oils.

[0023]FIG. 4 graphically compares the kinematic viscosity versus CCSviscosity for various inventive oils and comparative examples.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0024] This invention relates to base stocks and base oils that achieveimproved viscosity performance at low temperatures (about −25C orlower). The present invention also relates to formulated lubricantcompositions which comprise a base oil derived from waxy hydrocarbonfeedstocks, either from natural or, mineral, or synthetic sources (e.g.Fischer-Tropsch-type processes), and which may be used to meet thesimultaneous requirements of low-temperature viscosity and goodvolatility of SAE 0W-XX (XX=40 or lower) grade lubricants. Thisinvention also relates to processes or methods to make such base oils,base stocks, and formulated lubricant compositions.

[0025] More specifically, this invention encompasses base stocks thathave the surprising and unexpected simultaneous combination ofproperties of:

[0026] (a) viscosity index (VI) of 130 or greater,

[0027] (b) a pour point of −10C or lower,

[0028] (c) a ratio of measured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosityequal to 1.2 or less, at a temperature of −30C or lower, where themeasured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and wheretheoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation.

[0029] The base oil compositions of this invention encompass not onlyindividual base stocks as manufactured, but also mixtures or blends oftwo or more base stocks and/or base oils such that the resulting mixtureor blend satisfies the base stock requirements of this invention. Thebase oil compositions of this invention encompass a range of usefulviscosities, with base oil kinematic viscosity at 100C of about 1.5 cStto 8.5 cSt, preferably about 2 cSt to 8 cSt, and more preferably about 3cSt to 7.5 cSt. The base oils of this invention encompasses a range ofuseful pour points, with pour points of about −10C to greater than −30C,preferably about −12C to greater than −30C, and more preferably about−14C to greater than −30C. In some instances, the pour point may rangefrom −18C to −30C and may further range from −20C to −30C.

[0030] This invention further encompasses base oils that have thesurprising and unexpected simultaneous combination of properties of:

[0031] (a) a viscosity index (VI) of 130 or greater,

[0032] (b) a pour point of −10C or lower,

[0033] (c) a ratio of measured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosityequal to 1.2 or less, at a temperature of −30C or lower, where themeasured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and wheretheoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation, and

[0034] (d) a percent Noack volatility no greater than that calculated bythe formula—6.882Ln(CCS@−35C)+67.647, where CCS@−35C is the base oil CCSviscosity in centipoise, tested at −35C, and where CCS@−35C is less than5500 cP, and Ln(x) is the natural log of x.

[0035] Preferably, the base stocks and base oils of this invention asused herein will have a measured-to-theoretical low-temperatureviscosity of about 0.8 to about 1.2 at a temperature of −30C or lower,where the measured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and wheretheoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation

[0036] One embodiment of this invention encompasses base stocks and baseoils that have defined parameters for low-temperature viscosity andvolatility recited herein, and that may be used in formulated lubricantcompositions that are capable of meeting the viscosity requirements ofSAE 0W-XX (XX=40 or lower) graded oil as described by SAE J300-99, andthe volatility requirements of no greater than 13 wt % Noack volatility(as defined by ACEA A3-02 or ACEA B3-98). Another embodiment is alubricant comprising this base stock or base oil with the addition of atleast one performance additive. Yet another embodiment of this inventionencompasses functional fluids comprising one or more than one inventivebase stocks or base oils with the properties described above and atleast one performance additive.

[0037] Performance additives as used in this invention may encompass,for example, individual additives as components, combinations of one ormore individual additives or components as additive systems,combinations of one or more additives with one or more suitable diluentoils as additive concentrates or packages. Additive concentrateencompasses component concentrates as well as additive packages. Oftenin making or formulating lubricant compositions or functional fluids,viscosity modifiers or viscosity index improvers may be usedindividually as components or concentrates, independent of the use ofother performance additives in the form of components, concentrates, orpackages. The amount and type of performance additives that may becombined with base stocks and base oils of this invention are limitedsuch that the total mixture comprising one or more of the inventive basestocks and base oils plus one or more performance additives does notexceed the viscometric limits required for SAE 0W-XX (XX=40 or lower)grade oils and have no greater than 13 wt % Noack volatility (as definedby ACEA A3-02 or by ACEA B3-98).

[0038] Surprisingly, the low measured-to-theoretical viscosity ratio,which distinguishes one unexpected performance advantage of the basestocks and base oils of this invention, can also be expected to beobserved at temperatures below −35C, for example down to −40C or evenlower. Thus at these low temperatures, actual viscosity of base stocksand base oils of this invention would be expected to approach thedesired, ideal, theoretical viscosity, while comparative base stocks andbase oils would be expected to deviate even more strongly away fromtheoretical viscosity (i.e. to higher measured-to-theoretical viscosityratios).

[0039] Additionally, the base stocks and base oils of this invention mayhave the following properties:

[0040] (a) saturates content of at least 90 wt %, and

[0041] (b) a sulfur content of 0.03 wt. % or less

[0042] Viscosity index of the inventive base stocks and base oils may be130 or greater, or preferably 135 or greater and in some instances, 140or greater. The desired pour point of the inventive base stocks and baseoils is about −10C or lower, or preferably −12C or lower, or in someinstances more preferably −14C or lower. In some instances the pourpoint may be −18 or lower and more preferably, −20C and lower. For theinventive base stocks and base oils, the desired measured-to-theoreticalratio of low-temperature cold cranking simulator (CCS) viscosity equalsabout 1.2 or less, or preferably about 1.16 or less, or more preferablyabout 1.12 or less. For the low-temperature viscosity profiles of theinventive base stocks and base oils, the desired inventive base stocksand base oils have CCS viscosity @−35C of less than 5500 cP, orpreferably less than 5200 cP, or in some instances more preferably lessthan 5000 cP.

[0043] Base stocks and base oils of this invention may be used withother lubricant base stocks and base oils or co-base stocks and baseoils in formulated lubricant compositions or functional fluids. In someinstances, the highly advantageous low-temperature (−30C or lower)properties of these inventive base stocks and base oils can beneficiallyimprove the performance of finished lubricant compositions or functionalfluids at concentrations of 20 wt % or greater of the total base stocksand base oils contained in such compositions. Preferably, the inventivebase stocks and base oils may be used in combination with otherindividual base stocks and base oils to gain significant low-temperatureperformance benefits in finished lubricant compositions or functionalfluids. More preferably, the base stocks and base oils may be used at 40wt % or more of the total base stocks and base oils contained informulated lubricant compositions or functional fluids, withoutdetracting from the elements of this invention. And in certaininstances, the base oil(s) may be most preferably used at 50 wt % ormore of the total base stocks and base oils, or even 70 wt % or more ofthe total base stocks and base oils in finished lubricant compositionsor functional fluids.

[0044] The base stocks and base oils of the present invention may beproduced by:

[0045] (a) hydrotreating a feedstock having a wax content of at leastabout 50 wt. %, based on feedstock, with a hydrotreating catalyst undereffective hydrotreating conditions such that less than 5 wt. % of thefeedstock is converted to 650F (343C) minus products to produce ahydrotreated feedstock whose VI increase is less than 4 greater than theVI of the feedstock;

[0046] (b) stripping or distilling the hydrotreated feedstock toseparate gaseous from liquid product; and

[0047] (c) hydrodewaxing the liquid product with a dewaxing catalystwhich is at least one of ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, ZSM-57,ferrierite, ECR-42, ITQ-13, MCM-68, MCM-71, beta, fluorided alumina,silica-alumina or fluorided silica alumina under catalytically effectivehydrodewaxing conditions wherein the dewaxing catalyst contains at leastone Group 9 or Group 10 noble metal, and

[0048] (d) optionally, hydrofinishing the product from step (c) with amesoporous hydrofinishing catalyst from the M41S family underhydrofinishing conditions.

[0049] Other embodiments of this invention relate to methods of (a)making formulated lubricant compositions or functional fluids thatcomprise inventive base stocks and base oils that have significantperformance benefits in both lower volatility and lower low-temperatureviscosity, (b) making additive concentrates comprising inventive basestocks and base oils recited herein, (c) making formulated lubricantcompositions or functional fluids comprising the inventive base stocksand base oils recited herein with such compositions or fluids meetingthe viscosity requirements of a SAE 0W-XX (XX=40 or lower) graded oil asdescribed by SAE J300-99, and the volatility requirements of no greaterthan 13 wt % Noack volatility (as defined by ACEA A3-02 or ACEA B3-98).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] Improved fuel economy and low-temperature start-up capability areachieved with lubricants or engine oils having the SAE 0W-XX viscositygrade. However, currently available commercial Group III base stocksmanufactured using available processing technology do not havesufficiently good low-temperature performance to formulate to the SAE 0Wviscosity limit and maintain 13 wt % maximum Noack volatility. Oftenspecial base stocks and base oils, for example much more expensive,supply-limited Group IV PAO base stocks, are added to commercial GroupIII base stocks in order to meet one or more of the critical performancefeatures of such SAE 0W-XX grades. A Group III base stock with theenhanced capability to manufacture SAE 0W-XX lubricants would provide acost-effective technology option to provide the market with lubricantsat lower cost while offering higher fuel economy and reduced emissions.

[0051] The high viscosity index base stocks of this invention havesuperior low-temperature performance when compared to other highviscosity index base stocks. The difference in performance is mostcritical in the temperature range below −30C, where conventional highviscosity index Group III base stocks deviate significantly from thetheoretical viscosity. To illustrate, measured low-temperature CCSviscosity of comparative conventional high viscosity index Group IIIbase stocks tends to deviate to higher viscosity values than thatpredicted (Walther-MacCoull equation) for the expected theoreticalviscosity of the same base stocks at low temperatures (FIG. 2).

[0052] The inventive base stocks, base oils and lubricants of thisinvention surprisingly demonstrate the more ideal and highly desirableperformance predicted by the theoretical viscosity behavior of basestocks and base oils, as described according to the Walther-MacCoullequation (ASTM D341 appendix). In addition, the base stocks and baseoils of this invention are found to be surprisingly different fromavailable commercial Group III base oil regarding the ratio ofmeasured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosity, where actualviscosity is measured as cold cranking simulator (CCS) viscosity attemperatures of −30C or lower, and where theoretical viscosity derivesfrom the Walther-MacCoull equation (ASTM D341, appendix) at the sametemperature as the measured CCS viscosity. CCS viscosity is measuredunder high sheer conditions, whereas Brookfield viscosity is measuredunder low sheer conditions.

[0053] The base stocks and base oils of this invention also demonstratenovel and unexpected performance advantages in having simultaneouslylower volatility and lower viscosity than that of these comparativeGroup III base stocks and base oils (FIG. 3). Thelow-volatility/low-viscosity base stocks and base oils of this inventiondemonstrate advantageous Noack volatilities of less than about 20 wt %,preferably less than 16 wt %, and more preferably less than 15 wt %,with low-temperature CCS (cold crank simulator) viscosities measured at−35C of less than about 5500 cP, preferably less that about 5200 cP, andin some instances more preferably less than about 5000 cP. In FIG. 3,the shaded area is defined by the equation:

Wt % Noack Volatility≦−6.882Ln(CCS@−35C)+67.647

[0054] where CCS@−35C is the base oil CCS viscosity in centipoise,tested at −35C, and where CCS@−35C is less than 5500 cP

[0055] The base stocks and base oils of this invention have the uniqueand highly desirable characteristic of a measured-to-theoreticalviscosity ratio of 1.2 or lower, preferably 1.16 or lower, and in manyinstances more preferably 1.12 or lower. Base stocks and base oilshaving measured-to-theoretical viscosity ratios of less than about 1.2and with ratios approaching 1.0 are highly desirable, because lowerratios indicate significant advantages in low-temperature performanceand operability. The currently available Group III base stocks and baseoils, however, have characteristic measured-to-theoretical viscosityratios of 1.2 and higher, indicating poorer base oil low-temperatureviscosity and operability. In some instances, it is preferred to havethe measured-to-theoretical viscosity ratio be between about 0.8 andabout 1.2.

[0056] In one embodiment of this invention, the base stocks and baseoils of this invention have the surprising and unexpected simultaneouscombination of properties of:

[0057] (a) viscosity index (VI) of 130 or greater,

[0058] (b) a pour point of −10C or lower,

[0059] (c) a ratio of measured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosityequal to 1.2 or less, at a temperature of −30C or lower, where themeasured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and wheretheoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation.

[0060] This invention further encompasses base stocks and base oils thathave the surprising and unexpected simultaneous combination ofproperties of:

[0061] (a) viscosity index (VI) of 130 or greater,

[0062] (b) a pour point of −10C or lower,

[0063] (c) a ratio of measured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosityequal to 1.2 or less, at a temperature of −30C or lower, where themeasured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and wheretheoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation, and

[0064] (d) a percent Noack volatility no greater than that calculated bythe formula-6.882Ln(CCS @−35C)+67.647, where CCS@−35C is the base oilCCS viscosity in centipoise, tested at −35C, and where CCS@−35C is lessthan 5500 cP.

[0065] As used herein, the term lubricant includes, but is not limitedto, lubricant compositions, formulated lubricant compositions, lubes,functional fluids, lube products, lube oils, finished lubes, finishedlubricants, lubricating oils, greases and the like.

[0066] This invention also encompasses lubricants and formulatedlubricant compositions or functional fluids comprising the inventivebase oil compositions with the properties:

[0067] (a) a viscosity index (VI) of 130 or greater,

[0068] (b) a pour point of −10C or lower,

[0069] (c) a ratio of measured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosityequal to 1.2 or less, at a temperature of −30C or lower, where themeasured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and wheretheoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation.

[0070] This invention also encompasses lubricants and formulatedlubricant compositions or functional fluids comprising the inventivebase oil compositions with the properties:

[0071] (a) viscosity index (VI) of 130 or greater,

[0072] (b) a pour point of −10C or lower,

[0073] (c) a ratio of measured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosityequal to 1.2 or less, at a temperature of −30C or −35C or lower, wherethe measured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and wheretheoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation, and

[0074] (d) a percent Noack volatility no greater than that calculated bythe formula

−6.882Ln(CCS@−35C)+67.647,

[0075]  where CCS@−35C is the base oil CCS viscosity in centipoise,tested at −35C, and where CCS@−35C is less than 5500 cP,

[0076] Noack Volatility (evaporative loss) of the inventive base stocksand base oils of the is invention may range from less than about 1 wt %to about 20 wt %, depending on the viscosity of the particular basestock or base oil. Generally, the inventive base stocks haveadvantageous lower volatility properties that are preferred for manylubricant applications. The inventive base stocks recited herein mayhave Noack volatilities of 20 wt % or less, preferably 18 wt % or lessand more preferably, 16 wt % or less. In some applications, theinventive base stocks and base oils may have Noack volatilities lessthan 15 wt %, specifically even lower than 13 wt %. Additionally, thebase stocks and base oils of this invention may also have the followingproperties:

[0077] (a) saturates content of at least 90 wt %, and

[0078] (b) a sulfur content of 0.03 wt. % or less.

[0079] Products which incorporate the base stocks or base oils of thisinvention clearly have an advantage over other similar products madefrom conventional Group III base stocks. One embodiment of thisinvention is a formulated lubricant composition or functional fluidscomprising base stocks and base oils of this invention in combinationwith one or more additional co-base stocks and base oils. Anotherembodiment of this invention is a formulated lubricant composition orfunctional fluids comprising base stocks and base oils of this inventionin combination with one or more performance additives.

[0080] This invention is surprisingly advantageous in applications wherelow-temperature properties are important to the performance of thefinished lube or functional fluid. The base stocks and base oils of thisinvention may be advantageously used in many of the followingapplications, for example hydraulic fluids, compressor oils, turbineoils, circulating oils, gear oils, paper machine oils, industrial oils,automotive oils, manual transmission fluids, automatic transmissionfluids, drive train fluids, engine oils, gas engine oils, aviationpiston oils, diesel oils, marine oils, greases, and the like.

[0081] One embodiment of this invention encompasses an additiveconcentrate comprising the inventive base oil with the propertiesdescribed herein and one or more performance additives. An additiveconcentrate comprising the inventive base oil(s) may encompasscompositions where the inventive base oil is used in concentrations offrom about 1 wt % to 99 wt %, preferably from about 5 wt % to 95 wt %,and more preferably from about 10 wt % to 90 wt %. In some particularinstances, an additive concentrate comprising the inventive base oil(s)may encompass compositions where the inventive base oil is used inconcentrations of from about 20 wt % to 80 wt %, and sometime from about30 wt % to 70 wt %. Mixtures of the inventive base oil(s) and co-base(s)are also aspects of suitable additive concentrates.

[0082] One problem the current invention solves is that in order tomanufacture, for example, a SAE 0W-20 or SAE 0W-30 lubricant meeting theperformance specifications of ACEA A5-02/B5-02 or ILSAC GF-3, both theSAE J300-99 viscosity limits and volatility limits must be met. Productperformance standards ACEA A3-O₂/B3-98 have very low volatility limitsfor formulated lubricants or functional fluids, specifically 13 wt %maximum Noack volatility. The combined constraints of both requirementslimit the base stock options. At present, formulations meeting both SAESAE 0W-XX (XX=40 or lower) CCS viscosity limits and volatility limits ofACEA A5-O₂/B5-02 require combinations of base stocks and base oils thatgenerally require a Group IV base stock component.

[0083] Viscosity grade specifications for lubes as defined by SAEJ300-99 are listed in Table 2. The products of this invention, e.g., thebase stocks, base oils and formulated lubricant compositions orfunctional fluids comprising such base stocks and base oils, are notlimited to the grades recited by SAE J300. The materials of thisinvention may be expected to have additional performance advantages attemperatures lower than those recited by SAE J300, specifically lowerthat −35C, with even greater performance differentiation at −40C orlower. Additionally, the same materials may be expected to satisfy theperformance requirements of grades lower than that of the current SAE 0WGrade, for example a −5W grade or even a −10W grade. TABLE 2 ViscosityGrade Specifications (SAE J300-99) High-Temperature HTHS Low-TemperatureViscosity Viscosity Viscosity, CCS Viscosity MRV Kinematic Viscosity at150 C., 10⁶ (cP) Viscosity (cP) 100 C. (cSt) s⁻¹ (cP) SAE Grade MaximumMaximum Minimum Maximum Minimum 0 W 6200 at −35 C. 60000 at −40 C. 3.8 5W 6600 at −30 C. 60000 at −35 C. 3.8 10 W 7000 at −25 C. 60000 at −30 C.4.1 15 W 7000 at −20 C. 60000 at −25 C. 5.6 20 W 9500 at −15 C. 60000 at−20 C. 5.6 25 W 13000 at −10 C.  60000 at −15 C. 9.3 20 5.6 <9.3 2.6 309.3 <12.5 2.9 40 12.5 <16.3 2.9 (PCEO) 40 12.5 <16.3 3.7 (CEO) 50 16.3<21.9 3.7 60 21.9 <26.1 3.7

[0084] Generally, individual base stocks and base oils that cansuccessfully be combined with one or more performance additives to giveformulated lubricant compositions or functional fluids that meet ACEAA3-02/B3-98 volatility standards have base oil Noack volatility notwithin the ACEA-related limit of 13 wt % maximum. Available Group IIIbase stocks and base oils may meet these volatility limits, butgenerally at higher base oil viscosity. The volatility/viscosityprofiles of several available commercial Group III base stocks and baseoils is shown in FIG. 3. Used individually in formulated lubricantcompositions, these Group III base stocks and base oils do not achieveboth the low volatility and low viscosity necessary for the ACEAstandards.

[0085] Lubricating oils produced from the base stocks and base oils madeaccording to the invention meet the requirements of a Group III basestock and can be prepared in high yields while at the same timepossessing excellent properties such as high VI and low pour point.Specifically, the present invention allows for the production oflubricating oils meeting ACEA and ILSAC GF-3 standards of SAE 0W-XXlubricants from Group III base stocks in the substantial absence ofGroup IV base stocks.

[0086] An additional embodiment of this invention encompasses formulatedlubricant compositions or functional fluids comprising the inventivebase oil and at least one performance additive, with such formulatedlubricant compositions or functional fluids meeting the viscometricrequirements of SAE 0W-XX (XX=40 or lower) grade lubricants and havingno greater than 13 wt % Noack volatility (as defined by ACEA A3-02 orACEA B3-98).

[0087] While not limited to the SAE specifications, the amount and typeof co-base stocks and base oils that may be used with the base stocksand base oils of this invention are limited such that the total mixturecomprising one or more of the inventive base stocks and base oils plusone or more co-base stocks and base oils plus optionally one or moreperformance additives preferably such that the lubricant does not exceedthe viscometric limits required for SAE 0W-XX (XX=40 or lower) gradeengine oils and have no greater than 13 wt % Noack volatility (asdefined by ACEA A3-02 or by ACEA B3-98).

[0088] More specifically, one aspect of this invention encompasseslubricants comprising the inventive base oils and base stocks and one ormore performance additives, such that the lubricants meet:

[0089] (a) the viscometric requirements of SAE 0W-40, or

[0090] (b) the viscometric requirements of SAE 0W-30, or

[0091] (c) the viscometric requirements of SAE 0W-20, or

[0092] (d) the viscometric requirements of SAE 5W-20.

[0093] The inventive base oils are also suitably used in SAE gradeswherein no VI improver is employed.

[0094] Process

[0095] The products that derive from the processes of this inventiondemonstrate not only unique combinations of physical properties, butdemonstrate unique compositional properties that distinguish anddifferentiate them from available commercial products. Thus, the basestocks and base oils of this invention derived from the processesrecited herein are expected to have unique chemical, compositional,molecular, and structural features that uniquely define the base stocksand base oils of this invention.

[0096] The lubricant base stocks and base oils of this invention aremade according to processes comprising the conversion of waxy feedstocksto produce oils of lubricating viscosity having high viscosity indicesand produced in high yields. Thus, one may obtain base stocks and baseoils or base stocks having VIs of at least 130, preferably at least 135,more preferably at least 140, and having excellent low-temperatureproperties. Base stocks made according to these processes meet therequirements of a Group III base stock and can be prepared in highyields while at the same time possessing excellent properties such ashigh VI and low pour point.

[0097] The waxy feedstock used in these processes may derive fromnatural or mineral or synthetic sources. The feed to this process mayshave a waxy paraffins content of at least 50% by weight, preferably atleast 70% by weight, and more preferably at least 80% by weight.Preferred synthetic waxy feedstocks generally have waxy paraffinscontent by weight of at least 90 wt %, often at least 95 wt %, and insome instances at least 97 wt %. In addition, the waxy feed stock usedin these processes to make the base stocks and base oils of thisinvention may comprise one or more individual natural, mineral, orsynthetic waxy feedstocks, or any mixture thereof.

[0098] In addition, feedstocks to these processes may be either takenfrom conventional mineral oils, or synthetic processes. For example,synthetic processes may include GTL (gas-to-liquids) or FT(Fischer-Tropsch) hydrocarbons produced by such processes as theFischer-Tropsch process or the Kolbel-Englehardt process. Many of thepreferred feedstocks are characterized as having predominantly saturated(paraffinic) compositions.

[0099] In more detail, the feedstock used in the process of theinvention are wax-containing feeds that boil in the lubricating oilrange, typically having a 10% distillation point greater than 650F(343C), measured by ASTM D 86 or ASTM 2887, and are derived from mineralor synthetic sources. The wax content of the feedstock is at least about50 wt. %, based on feedstock and can range up to 100 wt. % wax. The waxcontent of a feed may be determined by nuclear magnetic resonancespectroscopy (ASTM D5292), by correlative ndM methods (ASTM D3238) or bysolvent means (ASTM D3235). The waxy feeds may be derived from a numberof sources such as natural or mineral or synthetic. In particular, waxyfeeds may include, for example, oils derived from solvent refiningprocesses such as raffinates, partially solvent dewaxed oils,deasphalted oils, distillates, vacuum gas oils, coker gas oils, slackwaxes, foots oils and the like, and Fischer-Tropsch waxes. Preferredfeeds are slack waxes and Fischer-Tropsch waxes. Slack waxes aretypically derived from hydrocarbon feeds by solvent or propane dewaxing.Slack waxes contain some residual oil and are typically deoiled. Footsoils are derived from deoiled slack waxes. The Fischer-Tropsch syntheticprocess prepares Fischer-Tropsch waxes. Non limiting examples ofsuitable waxy feedstocks include Paraflint 80 (a hydrogenatedFischer-Tropsch wax) and Shell MDS Waxy Raffinate (a hydrogenated andpartially isomerized middle distillate synthesis waxy raffinate.)

[0100] Feedstocks may have high contents of nitrogen- andsulfur-contaminants. Feeds containing up to 0.2 wt. % of nitrogen, basedon feed and up to 3.0 wt. % of sulfur can be processed in the presentprocess. Feeds having a high wax content typically have high viscosityindexes of up to 200 or more. Sulfur and nitrogen contents may bemeasured by standard ASTM methods D5453 and D4629, respectively.

[0101] For feeds derived from solvent extraction, the high boilingpetroleum fractions from atmospheric distillation are sent to a vacuumdistillation unit, and the distillation fractions from this unit aresolvent extracted. The residue from vacuum distillation may bedeasphalted. The solvent extraction process selectively dissolves thearomatic components in an extract phase while leaving the moreparaffinic components in a raffinate phase. Naphthenes are distributedbetween the extract and raffinate phases. Typical solvents for solventextraction include phenol, furfural and N-methylpyrrolidone. Bycontrolling the solvent to oil ratio, extraction temperature and methodof contacting distillate to be extracted with solvent, one can controlthe degree of separation between the extract and raffinate phases.

[0102] Hydrotreating

[0103] For hydrotreating, the catalysts are those effective forhydrotreating such as catalysts containing Group 6 metals (based on theIUPAC Periodic Table format having Groups from 1 to 18), Groups 8-10metals, and mixtures thereof. Preferred metals include nickel, tungsten,molybdenum, cobalt and mixtures thereof. These metals or mixtures ofmetals are typically present as oxides or sulfides on refractory metaloxide supports. The mixture of metals may also be present as bulk metalcatalysts wherein the amount of metal is 30 wt. % or greater, based oncatalyst. Suitable metal oxide supports include oxides such as silica,alumina, silica-aluminas or titania, preferably alumina. Preferredaluminas are porous aluminas such as gamma or beta. The amount ofmetals, either individually or in mixtures, ranges from about 0.5 to 35wt. %, based on the catalyst. In the case of preferred mixtures ofgroups 9-10 metals with group 6 metals, the groups 9-10 metals arepresent in amounts of from 0.5 to 5 wt. %, based on catalyst and thegroup 6 metals are present in amounts of from 5 to 30 wt. %. The amountsof metals may be measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductivelycoupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry or other methods specifiedby ASTM for individual metals.

[0104] The acidity of metal oxide supports can be controlled by addingpromoters and/or dopants, or by controlling the nature of the metaloxide support, e.g., by controlling the amount of silica incorporatedinto a silica-alumina support. Examples of promoters and/or dopantsinclude halogen, especially fluorine, phosphorus, boron, yttria,rare-earth oxides and magnesia. Promoters such as halogens generallyincrease the acidity of metal oxide supports while mildly basic dopantssuch as yttria or magnesia tend to decrease the acidity of suchsupports.

[0105] Hydrotreating conditions include temperatures of from 150 to 400°C., preferably 200 to 350° C., a hydrogen partial pressure of from 1480to 20786 kPa (200 to 3000 psig), preferably 2859 to 13891 kPa (400 to2000 psig), a space velocity of from 0.1 to 10 liquid hourly spacevelocity (LHSV), preferably 0.1 to 5 LHSV, and a hydrogen to feed ratioof from 89 to 1780 m³/m³ (500 to 10000 scf/B), preferably 178 to 890m³/m³.

[0106] Hydrotreating reduces the amount of nitrogen- andsulfur-containing contaminants to levels which will not unacceptablyaffect the dewaxing catalyst in the subsequent dewaxing step. Also,there may be certain polynuclear aromatic species which will passthrough the present mild hydrotreating step. These contaminants, ifpresent, will be removed in a subsequent hydrofinishing step.

[0107] During hydrotreating, less than 5 wt. % of the feedstock,preferably less than 3 wt. %, more preferably less than 2 wt. %, isconverted to 650° F. (343° C.) minus products to produce a hydrotreatedfeedstock whose VI increase is less than 4, preferably less than 3, morepreferably less than 2 greater than the VI of the feedstock. The highwax contents of the present feeds results in minimal VI increase duringthe hydrotreating step.

[0108] The hydrotreated feedstock may be passed directly to the dewaxingstep or preferably, stripped to remove gaseous contaminants such ashydrogen sulfide and ammonia prior to dewaxing. Stripping can be byconventional means such as flash drums or fractionators.

[0109] Dewaxing Catalyst

[0110] The dewaxing catalyst may be either crystalline or amorphous.Crystalline materials are molecular sieves that contain at least one 10or 12 ring channel and may be based on aluminosilicates (zeolites) or onsilicoaluminophosphates (SAPOs). Zeolites used for oxygenate treatmentmay contain at least one 10 or 12 channel. Examples of such zeolitesinclude ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, ZSM-57, ferrierite, ITQ-13,MCM-68 and MCM-71. Examples of aluminophosphates containing at least one10 ring channel include ECR-42. Examples of molecular sieves containing12 ring channels include zeolite beta, and MCM-68. The molecular sievesare described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,246,566, 5,282,958, 4,975,177,4,397,827, 4,585,747, 5,075,269 and 4,440,871. MCM-68 is described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,310,265. MCM-71 and ITQ-13 are described in PCTpublished applications WO 0242207 and WO 0078677. ECR-42 is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,303,534. Preferred catalysts include ZSM-48, ZSM-22 andZSM-23. Especially preferred is ZSM-48. The molecular sieves arepreferably in the hydrogen form. Reduction can occur in situ during thedewaxing step itself or can occur ex situ in another vessel.

[0111] Amorphous dewaxing catalysts include alumina, fluorided alumina,silica-alumina, fluorided silica-alumina and silica-alumina doped withGroup 3 metals. Such catalysts are described for example in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,900,707 and 6,383,366.

[0112] The dewaxing catalysts are bifunctional, i.e., they are loadedwith a metal hydrogenation component, which is at least one Group 6metal, at least one Group 8-10 metal, or mixtures thereof. Preferredmetals are Groups 9-10 metals. Especially preferred are Groups 9-10noble metals such as Pt, Pd or mixtures thereof (based on the IUPACPeriodic Table format having Groups from 1 to 18). These metals areloaded at the rate of 0.1 to 30 wt. %, based on catalyst. Catalystpreparation and metal loading methods are described for example in U.S.Pat. No. 6,294,077, and include for example ion exchange andimpregnation using decomposable metal salts. Metal dispersion techniquesand catalyst particle size control are described in U.S. Pat. No.5,282,958. Catalysts with small particle size and well dispersed metalare preferred.

[0113] The molecular sieves are typically composited with bindermaterials which are resistant to high temperatures which may be employedunder dewaxing conditions to form a finished dewaxing catalyst or may bebinderless (self bound). The binder materials are usually inorganicoxides such as silica, alumina, silica-aluminas, binary combinations ofsilicas with other metal oxides such as titania, magnesia, thoria,zirconia and the like and tertiary combinations of these oxides such assilica-alumina-thoria and silica-alumina magnesia. The amount ofmolecular sieve in the finished dewaxing catalyst is from 10 to 100,preferably 35 to 100 wt. %, based on catalyst. Such catalysts are formedby methods such spray drying, extrusion and the like. The dewaxingcatalyst may be used in the sulfided or unsulfided form, and ispreferably in the sulfided form.

[0114] Dewaxing conditions include temperatures of from 250-400° C.,preferably 275 to 350° C., pressures of from 791 to 20786 kPa (100 to3000 psig), preferably 1480 to 17339 kPa (200 to 2500 psig), liquidhourly space velocities of from 0.1 to 10 hr⁻¹, preferably 0.1 to 5 hr⁻¹and hydrogen treat gas rates from 45 to 1780 m³/m³ (250 to 10000 scf/B),preferably 89 to 890 m³/m³ (500 to 5000 scf/B).

[0115] Hydrofinishing

[0116] At least a portion of the product from dewaxing is passeddirectly to a hydrofinishing step without disengagement. It is preferredto hydrofinish the product resulting from dewaxing in order to adjustproduct qualities to desired specifications. Hydrofinishing is a form ofmild hydrotreating directed to saturating any lube range olefins andresidual aromatics as well as to removing any remaining heteroatoms andcolor bodies. The post dewaxing hydrofinishing is usually carried out incascade with the dewaxing step. Generally the hydrofinishing will becarried out at temperatures from about 150° C. to 350° C., preferably180° C. to 250° C. Total pressures are typically from 2859 to 20786 kPa(about 400 to 3000 psig). Liquid hourly space velocity is typically from0.1 to 5 LHSV (hr⁻¹), preferably 0.5 to 3 hr⁻¹ and hydrogen treat gasrates of from 44.5 to 1780 m³/m³ (250 to 10,000 scf/B).

[0117] Hydrofinishing catalysts are those containing Group 6 metals(based on the IUPAC Periodic Table format having Groups from 1 to 18),Groups 8-10 metals, and mixtures thereof. Preferred metals include atleast one noble metal having a strong hydrogenation function, especiallyplatinum, palladium and mixtures thereof. The mixture of metals may alsobe present as bulk metal catalysts wherein the amount of metal is 30 wt.% or greater based on catalyst. Suitable metal oxide supports includelow acidic oxides such as silica, alumina, silica-aluminas or titania,preferably alumina. The preferred hydrofinishing catalysts for aromaticssaturation will comprise at least one metal having relatively stronghydrogenation function on a porous support. Typical support materialsinclude amorphous or crystalline oxide materials such as alumina,silica, and silica-alumina. The metal content of the catalyst is oftenas high as about 20 weight percent for non-noble metals. Noble metalsare usually present in amounts no greater than about 1 wt. %.

[0118] The hydrofinishing catalyst is preferably a mesoporous materialbelonging to the M41S class or family of catalysts. The M41S family ofcatalysts are mesoporous materials having high silica contents whosepreparation is further described in J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1992, 114,10834. Examples included MCM-41, MCM-48 and MCM-50. Mesoporous refers tocatalysts having pore sizes from 15 to 100 Å. A preferred member of thisclass is MCM-41 whose preparation is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,098,684. MCM-41 is an inorganic, porous, non-layered phase having ahexagonal arrangement of uniformly-sized pores. The physical structureof MCM-41 is like a bundle of straws wherein the opening of the straws(the cell diameter of the pores) ranges from 15 to 100 Angstroms. MCM-48has a cubic symmetry and is described for example is U.S. Pat. No.5,198,203 whereas MCM-50 has a lamellar structure. MCM-41 can be madewith different size pore openings in the mesoporous range. Themesoporous materials may bear a metal hydrogenation component which isat least one of Group 8, Group 9 or Group 10 metals. Preferred are noblemetals, especially Group 10 noble metals, most preferably Pt, Pd ormixtures thereof.

[0119] Generally the hydrofinishing will be carried out at temperaturesfrom about 150° C. to 350° C., preferably 180° C. to 250° C. Totalpressures are typically from 2859 to 20786 kPa (about 400 to 3000 psig).Liquid hourly space velocity is typically from 0.1 to 5 LHSV (hr⁻¹),preferably 0.5 to 3 hr⁻¹ and hydrogen treat gas rates of from 44.5 to1780 m³/m³ (250 to 10,000 scf/B).

[0120] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to alubricant comprising at least one base stock with a VI of at least 130produced by a process which comprises:

[0121] (1) hydrotreating a feedstock having a wax content of at leastabout 60 wt. %, based on feedstock, with a hydrotreating catalyst undereffective hydrotreating conditions such that less than 5 wt. % of thefeedstock is converted to 650° F. (343° C.) minus products to produce ahydrotreated feedstock whose VI increase is less than 4 greater than theVI of the feedstock;

[0122] (2) stripping the hydrotreated feedstock to separate gaseous fromliquid product; and

[0123] (3) hydrodewaxing the liquid product with a dewaxing catalystwhich is at least one of ZSM-48, ZSM-57, ZSM-23, ZSM-22, ZSM-35,ferrierite, ECR-42, ITQ-13, MCM-71, MCM-68, beta, fluorided alumina,silica-alumina or fluorided silica alumina under catalytically effectivehydrodewaxing conditions wherein the dewaxing catalyst contains at leastone Group 9 or Group 10 noble metal.

[0124] Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to alubricant comprising at least one base stock with a VI of at least 130produced by a process which comprises:

[0125] (1) hydrotreating a lubricating oil feedstock having a waxcontent of at least about 50 wt. %, based on feedstock, with ahydrotreating catalyst under effective hydrotreating conditions suchthat less than 5 wt. % of the feedstock is converted to 650° F. (343°C.) minus products to produce a hydrotreated feedstock to produce ahydrotreated feedstock whose VI increase is less than 4 greater than theVI of the feedstock;

[0126] (2) stripping the hydrotreated feedstock to separate gaseous fromliquid product;

[0127] (3) hydrodewaxing the liquid product with a dewaxing catalystwhich is at least one of ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ferrierite, ZSM-48,ZSM-57, ECR-42, ITQ-13, MCM-68, MCM-71, beta, fluorided alumina,silica-alumina or fluorided silica-alumina under catalytically effectivehydrodewaxing conditions wherein the dewaxing catalyst contains at leastone Group 9 or 10 noble metal; and

[0128] (4) hydrofinishing the product from step (3) with a mesoporoushydrofinishing catalyst from the M41 S family under hydrofinishingconditions.

[0129] Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to alubricant comprising at least one base stock with a VI of at least 130produced by a process which comprises:

[0130] (1) hydrotreating a lubricating oil feedstock having a waxcontent of at least about 60 wt. %, based on feedstock, with ahydrotreating catalyst under effective hydrotreating conditions suchthat less than 5 wt. % of the feedstock is converted to 650° F. (343°C.) minus products to produce a hydrotreated feedstock to produce ahydrotreated feedstock whose VI increase is less than 4 greater than theVI of the feedstock;

[0131] (2) stripping the hydrotreated feedstock to separate gaseous fromliquid product;

[0132] (3) hydrodewaxing the liquid product with a dewaxing catalystwhich is ZSM-48 under catalytically effective hydrodewaxing conditionswherein the dewaxing catalyst contains at least one Group 9 or 10 noblemetal; and

[0133] (a) Optionally, hydrofinishing the product from step (3) withMCM-41 under hydrofinishing conditions.

[0134] Additional details concerning the processes that make the currentinvention may be found in co-pending application U.S. S No. 60/416,865which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0135] Base Stocks and Base Oils

[0136] A wide range of base stocks and base oils are known in the art.Base stocks and base oils that may be used as co-base stocks or co-baseoils in combination with the base stocks and base oils of the presentinvention are natural oils, mineral oils, and synthetic oils. Theselubricant base stocks and base oils may be used individually or in anycombination of mixtures with the instant invention. Natural, mineral,and synthetic oils (or mixtures thereof) may be used unrefined, refined,or rerefined (the latter is also known as reclaimed or reprocessed oil).Unrefined oils are those obtained directly from a natural, mineral, orsynthetic source and used without added purification. These includeshale oil obtained directly from retorting operations, petroleum oilobtained directly from primary distillation, and ester oil obtaineddirectly from an esterification process. Refined oils are similar to theoils discussed for unrefined oils except refined oils are subjected toone or more purification steps to improve the at least one lubricatingoil property. One skilled in the art is familiar with many purificationprocesses. These processes include for example solvent extraction,distillation, secondary distillation, acid extraction, base extraction,filtration, percolation, dewaxing, hydroisomerization, hydrocracking,hydrofinishing, and others. Rerefined oils are obtained by processesanalogous to refined oils but using an oil that has been previouslyused.

[0137] Groups I, II, III, IV and V are broad categories of base oilstocks developed and defined by the American Petroleum Institute (APIPublication 1509; www.API.org) to create guidelines for lubricant basestocks and base oils. Group I base stock generally have a viscosityindex of between about 80 to 120 and contains greater than about 0.03 wt% sulfur and/or less than about 90% saturates. Group II base stocksgenerally have a viscosity index of between about 80 to 120, and containless than or equal to about 0.03 wt % sulfur and greater than or equalto about 90% saturates. Group III stock generally has a viscosity indexgreater than about 120 and contain less than or equal to about 0.03 wt %sulfur and greater than about 90% saturates. Group IV includespolyalphaolefins (PAO). Group V base stock includes base stocks notincluded in Groups I-IV. The table below summarizes properties of eachof these five Groups. TABLE 1 API Classification of Base stocks and baseoils Saturates (wt %) Sulfur (wt %) Viscosity Index Group I <90&/or >0.03% & ≧80 & <120 Group II ≧90 & ≦0.03% & ≧80 & <120 Group III≧90 & ≦0.03% & ≧120 Group IV Polyalphaolefins (PAO) Group V All otherbase stocks and base oils not included in Groups I, II, III, or IV

[0138] Base stocks and base oils may be derived from many sources.Natural oils include animal oils, vegetable oils (castor oil and lardoil, for example), and mineral oils. In regard to animal and vegetableoils, those possessing favorable thermal oxidative stability can beused. Of the natural oils, mineral oils are preferred. Mineral oils varywidely as to their crude source, for example, as to whether they areparaffinic, naphthenic, or mixed paraffinic-naphthenic. Oils derivedfrom coal or shale are also useful in the present invention. Naturaloils vary also as to the method used for their production andpurification, for example, their distillation range and whether they arestraight run or cracked, hydrorefined, or solvent extracted.

[0139] Synthetic oils include hydrocarbon oil. Hydrocarbon oils includeoils such as polymerized and interpolymerized olefins (polybutylenes,polypropylenes, propylene isobutylene copolymers, ethylene-olefincopolymers, and ethylene-alphaolefin copolymers, polymers or copolymerof hydrocarbyl-substituted olefins where hydrocarbyl optionally containsO, N, or S, for example). Polyalphaolefin (PAO) oil base stocks are acommonly used synthetic hydrocarbon oil. By way of example, PAOs derivedfrom C8, C10, C12, C14 olefins or mixtures thereof may be utilized. SeeU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,956,122; 4,827,064; and 4,827,073, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0140] Group III and PAO base stocks and base oils are typicallyavailable in a number of viscosity grades, for example, with kinematicviscosity at 100C of 4 cSt, 5 cSt, 6 cSt, 8 cSt, 10 cSt, 12 cSt, 40 cSt,100 cSt, and higher, as well as any number of intermediate viscositygrades. In addition, PAO base stocks and base oils with highviscosity-index characteristics are available, typically in higherviscosity grades, for example, with kinematic viscosity at 100C of 100cSt to 3000 cSt or higher. The number average molecular weights of thePAOs, which are known materials and generally available on a majorcommercial scale from suppliers such as ExxonMobil Chemical Company,Chevron-Phillips, BP-Amoco, and others, typically vary from about 250 toabout 3000. The PAOs are typically comprised of relatively low molecularweight hydrogenated polymers or oligomers of alphaolefins which include,but are not limited to, C2 to about C32 alphaolefins with C8 to aboutC16 alphaolefins, such as 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene and the like,being preferred. The preferred polyalphaolefins are poly-1-octene,poly-1-decene and poly-1-dodecene and mixtures thereof and mixedolefin-derived polyolefins. However, the dimers of higher olefins in therange of C14 to C18 may be used to provide low viscosity basestocks ofacceptably low volatility. Depending on the viscosity grade and thestarting oligomer, the PAOs may be predominantly trimers and tetramersof the starting olefins, with minor amounts of the higher oligomers,having a viscosity range of about 1.5 to 12 cSt. PAO base stocks andbase oils may be used in formulated lubricant composition or functionalfluids either individually or in any combination of two or more.

[0141] The PAO fluids may be conveniently made by the polymerization ofan alphaolefin in the presence of a polymerization catalyst such as theFriedel-Crafts catalysts including, for example, aluminum trichloride,boron trifluoride or complexes of boron trifluoride with water, alcoholssuch as ethanol, propanol or butanol, carboxylic acids or esters such asethyl acetate or ethyl propionate. For example the methods disclosed byU.S. Pat. No. 4,149,178 or U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,291 may be convenientlyused herein. Other descriptions of PAO synthesis are found in thefollowing U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,742,082; 3,769,363; 3,876,720; 4,239,930;4,367,352; 4,413,156; 4,434,408; 4,910,355; 4,956,122; and 5,068,487.The dimers of the C14 to C18 olefins are described in U.S. Pat. No.4,218,330. All of the aforementioned patents are incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

[0142] Other types of synthetic PAO base stocks and base oils includehigh viscosity index lubricant fluids as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,827,064 and 4,827,073, which can be highly advantageously used incombination with the base stocks and base oils of this inventions, aswell as with in the formulated lubricant compositions or functionsfluids of this same invention. Other useful synthetic lubricating oilsmay also be utilized, for example, those described in the work“Synthetic Lubricants”, Gunderson and hart, Reinhold Publ. Corp., NewYork, 1962, which is incorporated in its entirety.

[0143] Other synthetic base stocks and base oils include hydrocarbonoils that are derived from the oligomerization or polymerization oflow-molecular weight compounds whose reactive group is not olefinic,into higher molecular weight compounds, which may be optionally reactedfurther or chemically modified in additional processes (e.g.isodewaxing, alkylation, esterification, hydroisomerization, dewaxing,etc.) to give a base oil of lubricating viscosity.

[0144] Hydrocarbyl aromatic base stocks and base oils are also widelyused in lubrication oils and functional fluids. In alkylated aromaticstocks (hydrocarbyl aromatics, for example), the alkyl substituents aretypically alkyl groups of about 8 to 25 carbon atoms, usually from about10 to 18 carbon atoms and up to three such substituents may be present,as described for the alkyl benzenes in ACS Petroleum Chemistry Preprint1053-1058, “Poly n-Alkylbenzene Compounds: A Class of Thermally Stableand Wide Liquid Range Fluids”, Eapen et al, Phila. 1984. Tri-alkylbenzenes may be produced by the cyclodimerization of 1-alkynes of 8 to12 carbon atoms as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,626. Otheralkylbenzenes are described in European Patent Application No. 168534and U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,072. Alkylbenzenes are used as lubricantbasestocks, especially for low-temperature applications (arctic vehicleservice and refrigeration oils) and in papermaking oils. They arecommercially available from producers of linear alkylbenzenes (LABs)such as Vista Chem. Co, Huntsman Chemical Co., Chevron Chemical Co., andNippon Oil Co. The linear alkylbenzenes typically have good low pourpoints and low temperature viscosities and VI values greater than 100together with good solvency for additives. Other alkylated aromaticswhich may be used when desirable are described, for example, in“Synthetic Lubricants and High Performance Functional Fluids”, Dressler,H., chap 5, (R. L. Shubkin (Ed.)), Marcel Dekker, N.Y. 1993. Aromaticbase stocks and base oils may include, for example, hydrocarbylalkylated derivatives of benzene, naphthalene, biphenyls, di-arylethers, di-aryl sulfides, di-aryl sulfones, di-aryl sulfoxides, di-arylmethanes or ethanes or propanes or higher homologues, mono- or di- ortri-aryl heterocyclic compounds containing one or more O, N, S, or P.

[0145] The hydrocarbyl aromatics that can be used can be any hydrocarbylmolecule that contains at least about 5% of its weight derived from anaromatic moiety such as a benzenoid moiety or naphthenoid moiety, ortheir derivatives. These hydrocarbyl aromatics include alkyl benzenes,alkyl naphthalenes, alkyl diphenyl oxides, alkyl naphthols, alkyldiphenyl sulfides, alkylated bis-phenol A, alkylated thiodiphenol, andthe like. The aromatic can be mono-alkylated, dialkylated,polyalkylated, and the like. The aromatic can be mono- orpoly-functionalized. The hydrocarbyl groups can also be comprised ofmixtures of alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl, cycloalkyl groups,cycloalkenyl groups and other related hydrocarbyl groups. Thehydrocarbyl groups can range from about C6 up to about C60 with a rangeof about C8 to about C40 often being preferred. A mixture of hydrocarbylgroups is often preferred. The hydrocarbyl group can optionally containsulfur, oxygen, and/or nitrogen containing substituents. The aromaticgroup can also be derived from natural (petroleum) sources, provided atleast about 5% of the molecule is comprised of an above-type aromaticmoiety. Viscosities at 100C of approximately 3 cSt to about 50 cSt arepreferred, with viscosities of approximately 3.4 cSt to about 20 cStoften being more preferred for the hydrocarbyl aromatic component. Inone embodiment, an alkyl naphthalene where the alkyl group is primarilycomprised of 1-hexadecene is used. Other alkylates of aromatics can beadvantageously used. Naphthalene, for example, can be alkylated witholefins such as octene, decene, dodecene, tetradecene or higher,mixtures of similar olefins, and the like. Useful concentrations ofhydrocarbyl aromatic in a lubricant oil composition can be about 2% toabout 25%, preferably about 4% to about 20%, and more preferably about4% to about 15%, depending on the application.

[0146] Other useful lubricant oil base stocks include wax isomerate basestocks and base oils, comprising hydroisomerized waxy stocks (e.g. waxystocks such as gas oils, slack waxes, fuels hydrocracker bottoms, etc.),hydroisomerized Fischer-Tropsch waxes, Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) base stocksand base oils, and other wax isomerate hydroisomerized base stocks andbase oils, or mixtures thereof. Fischer-Tropsch waxes, the high boilingpoint residues of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, are highly paraffinichydrocarbons with very low sulfur content. The hydroprocessing used forthe production of such base stocks may use an amorphoushydrocracking/hydroisomerization catalyst, such as one of thespecialized lube hydrocracking (LHDC) catalysts or a crystallinehydrocracking/hydroisomerization catalyst, preferably a zeoliticcatalyst. For example, one useful catalyst is ZSM-48 as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,075,269. Processes for makinghydrocracked/hydroisomerized distillates andhydrocracked/hydroisomerized waxes are described, for example, in U.S.Pat. Nos. 2,817,693; 4,975,177; 4,921,594 and 4,897,178 as well as inBritish Patent Nos. 1,429,494; 1,350,257; 1,440,230 and 1,390,359.Particularly favorable processes are described in European PatentApplication Nos. 464546 and 464547. Processes using Fischer-Tropsch waxfeeds are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,172 and 4,943,672.Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) base stocks and base oils, Fischer-Tropsch waxderived base stocks and base oils, and other wax isomeratehydroisomerized (wax isomerate) base stocks and base oils beadvantageously used in the instant invention, and may have usefulkinematic viscosities at 100C of about 3 cSt to about 50 cSt, preferablyabout 3 cSt to about 30 cSt, more preferably about 3.5 cSt to about 25cSt, as exemplified by GTL4 with kinematic viscosity of about 3.8 cSt at100C and a viscosity index of about 138. These Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) basestocks and base oils, Fischer-Tropsch wax derived base stocks and baseoils, and other wax isomerate hydroisomerized base stocks and base oilsmay have useful pour points of about −20C or lower, and under someconditions may have advantageous pour points of about −25C or lower,with useful pour points of about −30C to about −40C or lower. Usefulcompositions of Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) base stocks and base oils,Fischer-Tropsch wax derived base stocks and base oils, and wax isomeratehydroisomerized base stocks and base oils are recited in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,080,301; 6,090,989, and 6,165,949 for example, and are incorporatedherein in their entirety by reference.

[0147] Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) base stocks and base oils, Fischer-Tropschwax derived base stocks and base oils, have a beneficial kinematicviscosity advantage over conventional Group II and Group III base stocksand base oils, which may be used as a co-base stock or co-base oil withthe instant invention. Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) base stocks and base oilscan have significantly higher kinematic viscosities, up to about 20-50cSt at 100C, whereas by comparison commercial Group II base stocks andbase oils can have kinematic viscosities, up to about 15 cSt at 100C,and commercial Group III base stocks and base oils can have kinematicviscosities, up to about 10 cSt at 100C. The higher kinematic viscosityrange of Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) base stocks and base oils, compared to themore limited kinematic viscosity range of Group II and Group III basestocks and base oils, in combination with the instant invention canprovide additional beneficial advantages in formulating lubricantcompositions. Also, the exceptionally low sulfur content ofGas-to-Liquids (GTL) base stocks and base oils, and other wax isomeratehydroisomerized base stocks and base oils, in combination with the lowsulfur content of suitable olefin oligomers and/or alkyl aromatics basestocks and base oils, and in combination with the instant invention canprovide additional advantages in lubricant compositions where very lowoverall sulfur content can beneficially impact lubricant performance.

[0148] Alkylene oxide polymers and interpolymers and their derivativescontaining modified terminal hydroxyl groups obtained by, for example,esterification or etherification are useful synthetic lubricating oils.By way of example, these oils may be obtained by polymerization ofethylene oxide or propylene oxide, the alkyl and aryl ethers of thesepolyoxyalkylene polymers (methyl-polyisopropylene glycol ether having anaverage molecular weight of about 1000, diphenyl ether of polyethyleneglycol having a molecular weight of about 500-1000, and the diethylether of polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 1000 to1500, for example) or mono- and polycarboxylic esters thereof (theacidic acid esters, mixed C3-8 fatty acid esters, or the C13Oxo aciddiester of tetraethylene glycol, for example).

[0149] Esters comprise a useful base stock. Additive solvency and sealcompatibility characteristics may be secured by the use of esters suchas the esters of dibasic acids with monoalkanols and the polyol estersof monocarboxylic acids. Esters of the former type include, for example,the esters of dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, succinic acid,alkyl succinic acid, alkenyl succinic acid, maleic acid, azelaic acid,suberic acid, sebacic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, linoleic aciddimer, malonic acid, alkyl malonic acid, alkenyl malonic acid, etc.,with a variety of alcohols such as butyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, dodecylalcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, etc. Specific examples of these types ofesters include dibutyl adipate, di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, di-n-hexylfumarate, dioctyl sebacate, diisooctyl azelate, diisodecyl azelate,dioctyl phthalate, didecyl phthalate, dieicosyl sebacate, etc.

[0150] Particularly useful synthetic esters are those which are obtainedby reacting one or more polyhydric alcohols, preferably the hinderedpolyols (such as the neopentyl polyols e.g. neopentyl glycol,trimethylol ethane, 2-methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol) with alkanoic acidscontaining at least about 4 carbon atoms such as C5 to C30 acids (suchas saturated straight chain fatty acids including caprylic acid, capricacid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachicacid, and behenic acid, or the corresponding branched chain fatty acidsor unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid, or mixtures thereof).

[0151] Suitable synthetic ester components include esters of trimethylolpropane, trimethylol butane, trimethylol ethane, pentaerythritol and/ordipentaerythritol with one or more monocarboxylic acids containing fromabout 5 to about 10 carbon atoms. Such esters are widely availablecommercially, for example, the Mobil P-41 and P-51 esters (ExxonMobilChemical Company).

[0152] Other esters may included natural esters and their derivatives,fully esterified or partially esterified, optionally with free hydroxylor carboxyl groups. Such ester may included glycerides, natural and/ormodified vegetable oils, derivatives of fatty acids or fatty alcohols.

[0153] Silicon-based oils are another class of useful syntheticlubricating oils. These oils include polyalkyl-, polyaryl-, polyalkoxy-,and polyaryloxy-siloxane oils and silicate oils. Examples of suitablesilicon-based oils include tetraethyl silicate, tetraisopropyl silicate,tetra-(2-ethylhexyl)silicate, tetra-(4-methylhexyl)silicate,tetra-(p-tert-butylphenyl) silicate,hexyl-(4-methyl-2-pentoxy)disiloxane, poly(methyl) siloxanes, andpoly-(methyl-2-mehtylphenyl)siloxanes.

[0154] Another class of synthetic lubricating oil is esters ofphosphorus-containing acids. These include, for example, tricresylphosphate, trioctyl phosphate, diethyl ester of decanephosphonic acid.

[0155] Another type of base stocks and base oils includes polymerictetrahydrofurans and the like, and their derivatives where reactivependant or end groups are partially or fully derivatized or capped withsuitable hydrocarbyl groups which may optionally contain O, N, or S.

[0156] The highly beneficial viscosity advantages of the base stocks andbase oils of this invention can be realized in combination with one ormore performance additives, and with the desirablemeasured-to-theoretical viscosity ratios at less than −25C, preferablyat −30C or lower, being realized in the resulting formulated lubricantcompositions or functional fluids. These lubricant compositions orfunctional fluids also have the unique and highly desirablecharacteristic of a measured-to-theoretical viscosity ratio of 1.2 orlower, preferably 1.16 or lower, and in many instances more preferably1.12 or lower. Thus the effect of the measured-to-theoretical viscosityfeature of the base stocks and base oils of this invention is preservedeven in the presence of performance additives, leading to improvedformulated lubricant compositions or functional fluids comprising thebase stocks and base oils of this invention and one or more performanceadditives.

[0157] Performance Additives

[0158] The instant invention can be used with additional lubricantcomponents in effective amounts in lubricant compositions, such as forexample polar and/or non-polar lubricant base oils, and performanceadditives such as for example, but not limited to, metallic and ashlessoxidation inhibitors, metallic and ashless dispersants, metallic andashless detergents, corrosion and rust inhibitors, metal deactivators,anti-wear agents (metallic and non-metallic, low-ash,phosphorus-containing and non-phosphorus, sulfur-containing andnon-sulfur types), extreme pressure additives (metallic andnon-metallic, phosphorus-containing and non-phosphorus,sulfur-containing and non-sulfur types), anti-seizure agents, pour pointdepressants, wax modifiers, viscosity index improvers, viscositymodifiers, seal compatibility agents, friction modifiers, lubricityagents, anti-staining agents, chromophoric agents, defoamants,demulsifiers, and others. For a review of many commonly used additivessee Klamann in Lubricants and Related Products, Verlag Chemie, DeerfieldBeach, Fla.; ISBN 0-89573-177-0, which also gives a good discussion of anumber of the lubricant additives discussed mentioned below. Referenceis also made “Lubricant Additives” by M. W. Ranney, published by NoyesData Corporation of Parkridge, N.J. (1973). In particular, the base oilsof this invention can show significant performance advantages withmodern additives and/or additive systems, and additive packages thatimpart characteristics of low sulfur, low phosphorus, and/or low ash toformulated lubricant compositions or functional fluids.

[0159] Anitwear and Extreme Pressure Additives

[0160] Additional antiwear additives may be used with the presentinvention. While there are many different types of antiwear additives,for several decades the principal antiwear additive for internalcombustion engine crankcase oils is a metal alkylthiophosphate and moreparticularly a metal dialkyldithiophosphate in which the primary metalconstituent is zinc, or zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP). ZDDPcompounds generally are of the formula Zn[SP(S)(OR¹)(OR²)]₂ where R¹ andR² are C₁-C₁₈ alkyl groups, preferably C₂-C₁₂ alkyl groups. These alkylgroups may be straight chain or branched. For example, suitable alkylgroups include isopropyl, 4-methyl-2-pentyl, and isooctyl. The ZDDP istypically used in amounts of from about 0.4 wt % to about 1.4 wt. % ofthe total lube oil composition, although more or less can often be usedadvantageously.

[0161] However, it is found that the phosphorus from these additives hasa deleterious effect on the catalyst in catalytic converters and also onoxygen sensors in automobiles. One way to minimize this effect is toreplace some or all of the ZDDP with phosphorus-free antiwear additives.

[0162] A variety of non-phosphorus additives are also used as antiwearadditives. Sulfurized olefins are useful as antiwear and EP additives.Sulfur-containing olefins can be prepared by sulfurization or variousorganic materials including aliphatic, arylaliphatic or alicyclicolefinic hydrocarbons containing from about 3 to 30 carbon atoms,preferably 3-20 carbon atoms. The olefinic compounds contain at leastone non-aromatic double bond. Such compounds are defined by the formulaR³R⁴C═CR⁵R where each of R³-R⁶ are independently hydrogen or ahydrocarbon radical. Preferred hydrocarbon radicals are alkyl or alkenylradicals. Any two of R³-R⁶ may be connected so as to form a cyclic ring.Additional information concerning sulfurized olefins and theirpreparation can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,984, incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

[0163] The use of polysulfides of thiophosphorus acids andthiophosphorus acid esters as lubricant additives is disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 2,443,264; 2,471,115; 2,526,497; and 2,591,577. Addition ofphosphorothionyl disulfides as an antiwear, antioxidant, and EPadditives is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,854. Use ofalkylthiocarbamoyl compounds (bis(dibutyl)thiocarbamoyl, for example) incombination with a molybdenum compound (oxymolybdenumdiisopropylphosphorodithioate sulfide, for example) and a phosphorusester (dibutyl hydrogen phosphite, for example) as antiwear additives inlubricants is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,678. U.S. Pat. No.4,758,362 discloses use of a carbamate additive to provide improvedantiwear and extreme pressure properties. The use of thiocarbamate as anantiwear additive is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,598.Thiocarbamate/molybdenum complexes such as moly-sulfur alkyldithiocarbamate trimer complex (R═C₈-C₁₈ alkyl) are also useful antiwearagents. Each of the above mentioned patents is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

[0164] Esters of glycerol may be used as antiwear agents. For example,mono-, di, and tri-oleates, mono-palmitates and mono-myristates may beused.

[0165] ZDDP is combined with other compositions that provide antiwearproperties. U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,141 discloses that a combination of athiodixanthogen compound (octylthiodixanthogen, for example) and a metalthiophosphate (ZDDP, for example) can improve antiwear properties. U.S.Pat. No. 5,034,142 discloses that use of a metal alkyoxyalkylxanthate(nickel ethoxyethylxanthate, for example) and a dixanthogen(diethoxyethyl dixanthogen, for example) in combination with ZDDPimproves antiwear properties.

[0166] Antiwear additives may be used in an amount of about 0.01 to 6weight percent, preferably about 0.01 to 4 weight percent.

[0167] Viscosity Index Improvers

[0168] Viscosity index improvers (also known as VI improvers, viscositymodifiers, or viscosity improvers) provide lubricants with high- andlow-temperature operability. These additives impart shear stability atelevated temperatures and acceptable viscosity at low temperatures.

[0169] Suitable viscosity index improvers include both low molecularweight and high molecular weight hydrocarbons, polyesters and viscosityindex improver dispersants that function as both a viscosity indeximprover and a dispersant. Typical molecular weights of these polymersare between about 10,000 to 1,000,000, more typically about 20,000 to500,00, and even more typically between about 50,000 and 200,000.

[0170] Examples of suitable viscosity index improvers are polymers andcopolymers of methacrylate, butadiene, olefins, or alkylated styrenes.Polyisobutylene is a commonly used viscosity index improver. Anothersuitable viscosity index improver is polymethacrylate (copolymers ofvarious chain length alkyl methacrylates, for example), someformulations of which also serve as pour point depressants. Othersuitable viscosity index improvers include copolymers of ethylene andpropylene, hydrogenated block copolymers of styrene and isoprene, andpolyacrylates (copolymers of various chain length acrylates, forexample). Specific examples include styrene-isoprene orstyrene-butadiene based polymers of about 50,000 to 200,000 molecularweight.

[0171] Viscosity index improvers may be used in an amount of about 0.01to 15 weight percent, preferably about 0.01 to 10 weight percent, and insome instances, more preferably about 0.01 to 5 weight percent.

[0172] Antioxidants

[0173] Antioxidants retard the oxidative degradation of base oils duringservice. Such degradation may result in deposits on metal surfaces, thepresence of sludge, or a viscosity increase in the lubricant. Oneskilled in the art knows a wide variety of oxidation inhibitors that areuseful in lubricating oil compositions. See, Klamann in Lubricants andRelated Products, op cite, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,798,684 and 5,084,197,for example, the disclosures of which are incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety. Useful antioxidants include hindered phenols.These phenolic antioxidants may be ashless (metal-free) phenoliccompounds or neutral or basic metal salts of certain phenolic compounds.Typical phenolic antioxidant compounds are the hindered phenolics whichare the ones which contain a sterically hindered hydroxyl group, andthese include those derivatives of dihydroxy aryl compounds in which thehydroxyl groups are in the o- or p-position to each other. Typicalphenolic antioxidants include the hindered phenols substituted with C₆+alkyl groups and the alkylene coupled derivatives of these hinderedphenols. Examples of phenolic materials of this type 2-t-butyl-4-heptylphenol; 2-t-butyl-4-octyl phenol; 2-t-butyl-4-dodecyl phenol;2,6-di-t-butyl-4-heptyl phenol; 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-dodecyl phenol;2-methyl-6-t-butyl-4-heptyl phenol; and 2-methyl-6-t-butyl-4-dodecylphenol. Other useful hindered mono-phenolic antioxidants may include forexample hindered 2,6-di-alkyl-phenolic proprionic ester derivatives.Bis-phenolic antioxidants may also be advantageously used in combinationwith the instant invention. Examples of ortho coupled phenols include:2,2′-bis(6-t-butyl-4-heptyl phenol); 2,2′-bis(6-t-butyl-4-octyl phenol);and 2,2′-bis(6-t-butyl-4-dodecyl phenol). Para coupled bis phenolsinclude for example 4,4′-bis(2,6-di-t-butyl phenol) and4,4′-methylene-bis(2,6-di-t-butyl phenol).

[0174] Non-phenolic oxidation inhibitors which may be used includearomatic amine antioxidants and these may be used either as such or incombination with phenolics. Typical examples of non-phenolicantioxidants include: alkylated and non-alkylated aromatic amines suchas aromatic monoamines of the formula R⁸R⁹R¹⁰N where R⁸ is an aliphatic,aromatic or substituted aromatic group, R⁹ is an aromatic or asubstituted aromatic group, and R¹⁰ is H, alkyl, aryl or R¹¹S(O)_(x)R¹²where R¹¹ is an alkylene, alkenylene, or aralkylene group, R¹² is ahigher alkyl group, or an alkenyl, aryl, or alkaryl group, and x is 0, 1or 2. The aliphatic group R⁸ may contain from 1 to about 20 carbonatoms, and preferably contains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. The aliphaticgroup is a saturated aliphatic group. Preferably, both R⁸ and R⁹ arearomatic or substituted aromatic groups, and the aromatic group may be afused ring aromatic group such as naphthyl. Aromatic groups R⁸ and R⁹may be joined together with other groups such as S.

[0175] Typical aromatic amines antioxidants have alkyl substituentgroups of at least about 6 carbon atoms. Examples of aliphatic groupsinclude hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, and decyl. Generally, the aliphaticgroups will not contain more than about 14 carbon atoms. The generaltypes of amine antioxidants useful in the present compositions includediphenylamines, phenyl naphthylamines, phenothiazines, imidodibenzylsand diphenyl phenylene diamines. Mixtures of two or more aromatic aminesare also useful. Polymeric amine antioxidants can also be used.Particular examples of aromatic amine antioxidants useful in the presentinvention include: p,p′-dioctyldiphenylamine;t-octylphenyl-alpha-naphthylamine; phenyl-alphanaphthylamine; andp-octylphenyl-alpha-naphthylamine.

[0176] Sulfurized alkyl phenols and alkali or alkaline earth metal saltsthereof also are useful antioxidants. Low sulfur peroxide decomposersare useful as antioxidants.

[0177] Another class of antioxidant used in lubricating oil compositionsis oil-soluble copper compounds. Any oil-soluble suitable coppercompound may be blended into the lubricating oil. Examples of suitablecopper antioxidants include copper dihydrocarbyl thio ordithio-phosphates and copper salts of carboxylic acid (naturallyoccurring or synthetic). Other suitable copper salts include copperdithiacarbamates, sulphonates, phenates, and acetylacetonates. Basic,neutral, or acidic copper Cu(I) and or Cu(II) salts derived from alkenylsuccinic acids or anhydrides are know to be particularly useful.

[0178] Preferred antioxidants include hindered phenols, arylamines, lowsulfur peroxide decomposers and other related components. Theseantioxidants may be used individually by type or in combination with oneanother. Such additives may be used in an amount of about 0.01 to 5weight percent, preferably about 0.01 to 2 weight percent.

[0179] Detergents

[0180] Detergents are commonly used in lubricating compositions. Atypical detergent is an anionic material that contains a long chainoleophillic portion of the molecule and a smaller anionic or oleophobicportion of the molecule. The anionic portion of the detergent istypically derived from an organic acid such as a sulfur acid, carboxylicacid, phosphorus acid, phenol, or mixtures thereof. The counter ion istypically an alkaline earth or alkali metal.

[0181] Salts that contain a substantially stochiometric amount of themetal are described as neutral salts and have a total base number (TBN,as measured by ASTM D2896) of from 0 to 80. Many compositions areoverbased, containing large amounts of a metal base that is achieved byreacting an excess of a metal compound (a metal hydroxide or oxide, forexample) with an acidic gas (such as carbon dioxide). Useful detergentscan be neutral, mildly overbased, or highly overbased.

[0182] It is desirable for at least some detergent to be overbased.Overbased detergents help neutralize acidic impurities produced by thecombustion process and become entrapped in the oil. Typically, theoverbased material has a ratio of metallic ion to anionic portion of thedetergent of about 1.05:1 to 50:1 on an equivalent basis. Morepreferably, the ratio is from about 4:1 to about 25:1. The resultingdetergent is an overbased detergent that will typically have a TBN ofabout 150 or higher, often about 250 to 450 or more. Preferably, theoverbasing cation is sodium, calcium, or magnesium. A mixture ofdetergents of differing TBN can be used in the present invention.Preferred detergents include the alkali or alkaline earth metal salts ofsulfates, phenates, carboxylates, phosphates, and salicylates.

[0183] Sulfonates may be prepared from sulfonic acids that are typicallyobtained by sulfonation of alkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons.Hydrocarbon examples include those obtained by alkylating benzene,toluene, xylene, naphthalene, biphenyl and their halogenated derivatives(chlorobenzene, chlorotoluene, and chloronaphthalene, for example). Thealkylating agents typically have about 3 to 70 carbon atoms. The alkarylsulfonates typically contain about 9 to about 80 carbon or more carbonatoms, more typically from about 16 to 60 carbon atoms.

[0184] Klamann in Lubricants and Related Products, op cit discloses anumber of overbased metal salts of various sulfonic acids which areuseful as detergents and dispersants in lubricants. The book entitled“Lubricant Additives”, C. V. Smallheer and R. K. Smith, published by theLezius-Hiles Co. of Cleveland, Ohio (1967), similarly discloses a numberof overbased sulfonates which are useful as dispersants/detergents.

[0185] Alkaline earth phenates are another useful class of detergent.These detergents can be made by reacting alkaline earth metal hydroxideor oxide (CaO, Ca(OH)₂, BaO, Ba(OH)₂, MgO, Mg(OH)₂, for example) with analkyl phenol or sulfurized alkylphenol. Useful alkyl groups includestraight chain or branched C₁-C₃₀ alkyl groups, preferably, C₄-C₂₀.Examples of suitable phenols include isobutylphenol, 2-ethylhexylphenol,nonylphenol, 1-ethyldecylphenol, and the like. It should be noted thatstarting alkylphenols may contain more than one alkyl substituent thatare each independently straight chain or branched. When a non-sulfurizedalkylphenol is used, the sulfurized product may be obtained by methodswell known in the art. These methods include heating a mixture ofalkylphenol and sulfurizing agent (including elemental sulfur, sulfurhalides such as sulfur dichloride, and the like) and then reacting thesulfurized phenol with an alkaline earth metal base.

[0186] Metal salts of carboxylic acids are also useful as detergents.These carboxylic acid detergents may be prepared by reacting a basicmetal compound with at least one carboxylic acid and removing free waterfrom the reaction product. These compounds may be overbased to producethe desired TBN level. Detergents made from salicylic acid are onepreferred class of detergents derived from carboxylic acids. Usefulsalicylates include long chain alkyl salicylates, where alkyl groupshave 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, with 1 to 4 alkyl group per benzenoidnucleus, and with the metal of the compound including alkaline earthmetal. Preferred R groups are alkyl chains of at least about C₁₁,preferably C₁₃ or greater. R may be optionally substituted withsubstituents that do not interfere with the detergent's function. M ispreferably, calcium, magnesium, or barium. More preferably, M iscalcium.

[0187] Hydrocarbyl-substituted salicylic acids may be prepared fromphenols by the Kolbe reaction. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,791 foradditional information on synthesis of these compounds. The metal saltsof the hydrocarbyl-substituted salicylic acids may be prepared by doubledecomposition of a metal salt in a polar solvent such as water oralcohol. Alkaline earth metal phosphates are also used as detergents.

[0188] Detergents may be simple detergents or what is known as hybrid orcomplex detergents. The latter detergents can provide the properties oftwo detergents without the need to blend separate materials. See U.S.Pat. No. 6,034,039 for example.

[0189] Preferred detergents include calcium phenates, calciumsulfonates, calcium salicylates, magnesium phenates, magnesiumsulfonates, magnesium salicylates and other related components(including borated detergents). Typically, the total detergentconcentration is about 0.01 to about 6 weight percent, preferably, about0.1 to 4 weight percent.

[0190] In addition, non-ionic detergents may be preferably used inlubricating compositions. Such non-ionic detergents may be ashless orlow-ash compounds, and may include discrete molecular compounds, as wellas oligomeric and/or polymeric compounds.

[0191] Dispersants

[0192] During engine operation, oil insoluble oxidation byproducts areproduced. Dispersants help keep these byproducts in solution, thusdiminishing their deposit on metal surfaces. Dispersants may be ashlessor ash-forming in nature. Preferably, the dispersant is ashless. Socalled ashless dispersants are organic materials that form substantiallyno ash upon combustion. For example, non-metal-containing or boratedmetal-free dispersants are considered ashless. In contrast,metal-containing detergents discussed above form ash upon combustion.

[0193] Suitable dispersants typically contain a polar group attached toa relatively high molecular weight hydrocarbon chain. The polar grouptypically contains at least one element of nitrogen, oxygen, orphosphorous. Typical hydrocarbon chains contain about 50 to 400 carbonatoms.

[0194] Dispersants include phenates, sulfonates, sulfurized phenates,salicylates, naphthenates, stearates, carbamates, thiocarbamates, andphosphorus derivatives. A particularly useful class of dispersants arealkenylsuccinic derivatives, typically produced by the reaction of along chain substituted alkenyl succinic compound, usually a substitutedsuccinic anhydride, with a polyhydroxy or polyamino compound. The longchain group constituting the oleophilic portion of the molecule whichconfers solubility in the oil, is normally a polyisobutylene group. Manyexamples of this type of dispersant are well known. Exemplary U.S.patents describing such dispersants include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,172,892;3,2145,707; 3,219,666; 3,316,177; 3,341,542; 3,444,170; 3,454,607;3,541,012; 3,630,904; 3,632,511; 3,787,374 and 4,234,435. Other types ofdispersants are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,036,003; 3,200,107;3,254,025; 3,275,554; 3,438,757; 3,454,555; 3,565,804; 3,413,347;3,697,574; 3,725,277; 3,725,480; 3,726,882; 4,454,059; 3,329,658;3,449,250; 3,519,565; 3,666,730; 3,687,849; 3,702,300; 4,100,082;5,705,458. A further description of dispersants is also found inEuropean Patent Application No. 471 071. Each of the above noted patentsand patent applications is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

[0195] Hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid compounds are well knowndispersants. In particular, succinimide, succinate esters, or succinateester amides prepared by the reaction of hydrocarbon-substitutedsuccinic acid preferably having at least 50 carbon atoms in thehydrocarbon substituent, with at least one equivalent of an alkyleneamine, are particularly useful.

[0196] Succinimides are formed by the condensation reaction betweenalkenyl succinic anhydrides and amines. Molar ratios can vary dependingon the polyamine. For example, the molar ratio of alkenyl succinicanhydride to TEPA can vary from about 1:1 to about 5:1. Representativeexamples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,087,936; 3,172,892; 3,219,666;3,272,746; 3,322,670; 3,652,616; 3,948,800; and Canada Pat. No.1,094,044, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

[0197] Succinate esters are formed by the condensation reaction betweenalkenyl succinic anhydrides and alcohols or polyols. Molar ratios canvary depending on the alcohol or polyol used. For example, thecondensation product of an alkenyl succinic anhydride andpentaerythritol is a useful dispersant.

[0198] Succinate ester amides are formed by condensation reactionbetween alkenyl succinic anhydrides and alkanol amines. For example,suitable alkanol amines include ethoxylated polyalkylpolyamines,propoxylated polyalkylpolyamines and polyalkenylpolyamines such aspolyethylene polyamines. One example is propoxylatedhexamethylenediamine. Representative examples are shown in U.S. Pat. No.4,426,305, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0199] The molecular weight of the alkenyl succinic anhydrides used inthe preceding paragraphs will range between about 800 and 2,500. Theabove products can be post-reacted with various reagents such as sulfur,oxygen, formaldehyde, carboxylic acids such as oleic acid, and boroncompounds such as borate esters or highly borated dispersants. Thedispersants can be borated with from about 0.1 to about 5 moles of boronper mole of dispersant reaction product, including those derived frommono-succinimides, bis-succinimides (also known as disuccinimides), andmixtures thereof.

[0200] Mannich base dispersants are made from the reaction ofalkylphenols, formaldehyde, and amines. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,551,incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Process aids andcatalysts, such as oleic acid and sulfonic acids, can also be part ofthe reaction mixture. Molecular weights of the alkylphenols range from800 to 2,500. Representative examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,697,574; 3,703,536; 3,704,308; 3,751,365; 3,756,953; 3,798,165; and3,803,039, which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0201] Typical high molecular weight aliphatic acid modified Mannichcondensation products useful in this invention can be prepared from highmolecular weight alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatics or HN(R)₂group-containing reactants.

[0202] Examples of high molecular weight alkyl-substitutedhydroxyaromatic compounds are polypropylphenol, polybutylphenol, andother polyalkylphenols. These polyalkylphenols can be obtained by thealkylation, in the presence of an alkylating catalyst, such as BF3, ofphenol with high molecular weight polypropylene, polybutylene, and otherpolyalkylene compounds to give alkyl substituents on the benzene ring ofphenol having an average 600-100,000 molecular weight.

[0203] Examples of HN(R)2 group-containing reactants are alkylenepolyamines, principally polyethylene polyamines. Other representativeorganic compounds containing at least one HN(R)2 group suitable for usein the preparation of Mannich condensation products are well known andinclude mono- and di-amino alkanes and their substituted analogs, e.g.,ethylamine and diethanol amine; aromatic diamines, e.g., phenylenediamine, diamino naphthalenes; heterocyclic amines, e.g., morpholine,pyrrole, pyrrolidine, imidazole, imidazolidine, and piperidine; melamineand their substituted analogs.

[0204] Examples of alkylene polyamide reactants include ethylenediamine,diethylene triamine, triethylene tetraamine, tetraethylene pentaamine,pentaethylene hexamine, hexaethylene heptaamine, heptaethyleneoctaamine, octaethylene nonaamine, nonaethylene decamine, decaethyleneundecamine, and mixtures of such amines. Some preferred compositionscorrespond to formula H2N-(Z-NH—)_(n)H, where Z is a divalent ethyleneand n is 1 to 10 of the foregoing formula. Corresponding propylenepolyamines such as propylene diamine and di-, tri-, tetra-,pentapropylene tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexaamines are also suitablereactants. Alkylene polyamines usually are obtained by the reaction ofammonia and dihalo alkanes, such as dichloro alkanes. Thus, the alkylenepolyamines obtained from the reaction of 2 to 11 moles of ammonia with 1to 10 moles of dichloro alkanes having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and thechlorines on different carbons are suitable alkylene polyaminereactants.

[0205] Aldehyde reactants useful in the preparation of the highmolecular products useful in this invention include aliphatic aldehydessuch as formaldehyde (such as paraformaldehyde and formalin),acetaldehyde and aldol (b-hydroxybutyraldehyde, for example).Formaldehyde or a formaldehyde-yielding reactant is preferred.

[0206] Hydrocarbyl substituted amine ashless dispersant additives arewell known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.3,275,554; 3,438,757; 3,565,804; 3,755,433, 3,822,209, and 5,084,197,each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0207] Preferred dispersants include borated and non-boratedsuccinimides, including those derivatives from mono-succinimides,bis-succinimides, and/or mixtures of mono- and bis-succinimides, whereinthe hydrocarbyl succinimide is derived from a hydrocarbylene group suchas polyisobutylene having a Mn of from about 500 to about 5000 or amixture of such hydrocarbylene groups. Other preferred dispersantsinclude succinic acid-esters and amides, alkylphenol-polyamine coupledMannich adducts, their capped derivatives, and other related components.Such additives may be used in an amount of about 0.1 to 20 weightpercent, preferably about 0.1 to 8 weight percent.

[0208] Other dispersants may include oxygen-containing compounds, suchas polyether compounds, polycarbonate compounds, and/or polycarbonylcompounds, as oligomers or polymers, ranging from low molecular weightto high molecular weight.

[0209] Friction Modifiers

[0210] A friction modifier is any material or materials that can alterthe coefficient of friction of any lubricant or fluid containing suchmaterial(s). Friction modifiers, also known as friction reducers, orlubricity agents or oiliness agents, and other such agents that changethe coefficient of friction of lubricant base oils, formulated lubricantcompositions, or functional fluids, may be effectively used incombination with the base oils or lubricant compositions of the presentinvention if desired. Friction modifiers that lower the coefficient offriction are particularly advantageous in combination with the base oilsand lube compositions of this invention. Friction modifiers may includemetal-containing compounds or materials as well as ashless compounds ormaterials, or mixtures thereof. Metal-containing friction modifiers mayinclude metal salts or metal-ligand complexes where the metals mayinclude alkali, alkaline earth, or transition group metals. Suchmetal-containing friction modifiers may also have low-ashcharacteristics. Transition metals may include Mo, Sb, Sn, Fe, Cu, Zn,and others. Ligands may include hydrocarbyl derivative of alcohols,polyols, glycerols, partial ester glycerols, thiols, carboxylates,carbamates, thiocarbamates, dithiocarbamates, phosphates,thiophosphates, dithiophosphates, amides, imides, amines, thiazoles,thiadiazoles, dithiazoles, diazoles, triazoles, and other polarmolecular functional groups containing effective amounts of 0, N, S, orP, individually or in combination. In particular, Mo-containingcompounds can be particularly effective such as for exampleMo-dithiocarbamates, Mo(DTC), Mo-dithiophosphates, Mo(DTP), Mo-amines,Mo (Am), Mo-alcoholates, Mo-alcohol-amides, etc.

[0211] Ashless friction modifiers may have also include lubricantmaterials that contain effective amounts of polar groups, for examplehydroxyl-containing hydrocaryl base oils, glycerides, partialglycerides, glyceride derivatives, and the like. Polar groups infriction modifiers may include hyrdocarbyl groups containing effectiveamounts of O, N, S, or P, individually or in combination. Other frictionmodifiers that may be particularly effective include, for example, salts(both ash-containing and ashless derivatives) of fatty acids, fattyalcohols, fatty amides, fatty esters, hydroxyl-containing carboxylates,and comparable synthetic long-chain hydrocarbyl acids, alcohols, amides,esters, hydroxy carboxylates, and the like. In some instances fattyorganic acids, fatty amines, and sulfurized fatty acids may be used assuitable friction modifiers.

[0212] Useful concentrations of friction modifiers may range from about0.01 wt % to 10-15 wt % or more, often with a preferred range of about0.1 wt % to 5 wt %. Concentrations of molybdenum containing materialsare often described in terms of Mo metal concentration. Advantageousconcentrations of Mo may range from about 10 ppm to 3000 ppm or more,and often with a preferred range of about 20-2000 ppm, and in someinstances a more preferred range of about 30-1000 ppm. Frictionmodifiers of all types may be used alone or in mixtures with thematerials of this invention. Often mixtures of two or more frictionmodifiers, or mixtures of friction modifiers(s) with alternate surfaceactive material(s), are also desirable.

[0213] Pour Point Depressants

[0214] Conventional pour point depressants (also known as lube oil flowimprovers) may be added to the compositions of the present invention ifdesired. These pour point depressant may be added to lubricatingcompositions of the present invention to lower the minimum temperatureat which the fluid will flow or can be poured. Examples of suitable pourpoint depressants include polymethacrylates, polyacrylates,polyarylamides, condensation products of haloparaffin waxes and aromaticcompounds, vinyl carboxylate polymers, and terpolymers ofdialkylfumarates, vinyl esters of fatty acids and allyl vinyl ethers.U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,815,022; 2,015,748; 2,191,498; 2,387,501; 2,655, 479;2,666,746; 2,721,877; 2.721,878; and 3,250,715 describe useful pourpoint depressants and/or the preparation thereof. Each of thesereferences is incorporated herein in its entirety. Such additives may beused in an amount of about 0.01 to 5 weight percent, preferably about0.01 to 1.5 weight percent.

[0215] Corrosion Inhibitors

[0216] Corrosion inhibitors are used to reduce the degradation ofmetallic parts that are in contact with the lubricating oil composition.Suitable corrosion inhibitors include thiadizoles. See, for example,U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,719,125; 2,719,126; and 3,087,932, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Such additives maybe used in an amount of about 0.01 to 5 weight percent, preferably about0.01 to 1.5 weight percent.

[0217] Seal Compatibility Additives

[0218] Seal compatibility agents help to swell elastomeric seals bycausing a chemical reaction in the fluid or physical change in theelastomer. Suitable seal compatibility agents for lubricating oilsinclude organic phosphates, aromatic esters, aromatic hydrocarbons,esters (butylbenzyl phthalate, for example), and polybutenyl succinicanhydride. Additives of this type are commercially available. Suchadditives may be used in an amount of about 0.01 to 3 weight percent,preferably about 0.01 to 2 weight percent.

[0219] Anti-Foam Agents

[0220] Anti-foam agents may advantageously be added to lubricantcompositions. These agents retard the formation of stable foams.Silicones and organic polymers are typical anti-foam agents. Forexample, polysiloxanes, such as silicon oil or polydimethyl siloxane,provide antifoam properties. Anti-foam agents are commercially availableand may be used in conventional minor amounts along with other additivessuch as demulsifiers; usually the amount of these additives combined isless than 1 percent and often less than 0.1 percent.

[0221] Inhibitors and Antirust Additives

[0222] Antirust additives (or corrosion inhibitors) are additives thatprotect lubricated metal surfaces against chemical attack by water orother contaminants. A wide variety of these are commercially available;they are referred to also in Klamann, op. cit.

[0223] One type of antirust additive is a polar compound that wets themetal surface preferentially, protecting it with a film of oil. Anothertype of antirust additive absorbs water by incorporating it in awater-in-oil emulsion so that only the oil touches the metal surface.Yet another type of antirust additive chemically adheres to the metal toproduce a non-reactive surface. Examples of suitable additives includezinc dithiophosphates, metal phenolates, basic metal sulfonates, fattyacids and amines. Such additives may be used in an amount of about 0.01to 5 weight percent, preferably about 0.01 to 1.5 weight percent.Additional types of additives may be further incorporated into lubricantcompositions or functional fluids of this invention, and may include oneor more additives such as, for example, demulsifiers, solubilizers,fluidity agents, coloring agents, chromophoric agents, and the like, asrequired. Further, each additive type may include individual additivesor mixtures of additive.

[0224] Typical Additive Amounts

[0225] When lubricating oil compositions contain one or more of theadditives discussed above, the additive(s) are blended into thecomposition in an amount sufficient for it to perform its intendedfunction. Typical amounts of such additives useful in the presentinvention are shown in the Table 3 below.

[0226] Note that many additives, additive concentrates, and additivepackages that are purchased from manufacturers may incorporate a certainamount of base oil solvent, or diluent, in the formulation. Accordingly,the weight amounts in Table 3 below are directed to the amount of activeingredient (that is the non-solvent portion of the ingredient). Theweight percents indicated below are based on the total weight of thelubricating oil composition. In practical applications, however,additive components, additive concentrates, and additive packages areused as purchased from manufactures, and may include certain amounts ofbase oil solvent or diluent. The additive and formulation components asrecited in the Examples and Comparative Examples below are used “as is”from their manufacturers or suppliers, unless specifically notedotherwise. TABLE 3 Typical Amounts of Various Lubricant Oil ComponentsApproximate Weight Approximate Weight Compound Percent (Useful) Percent(Preferred) Detergent  0.01-6  0.01-4 Dispersant  0.1-20  0.1-8 FrictionReducer  0.01-5  0.01-1.5 Viscosity Index Improver    0-40  0.01-30,more preferably 0.01 to 15 Antioxidant  0.01-5  0.01-2 CorrosionInhibitor    0-5  0.01-1.5 Anti-wear Additive  0.01-6  0.01-4 Pour PointDepressant    0-5  0.01-1.5 Demulsifier 0-3 0.001-1.5 Anti-foam Agent0.001-3 0.001-0.15 Seals Compatibility    0-3  0.01-2 Agent Base OilBalance Balance

EXAMPLES

[0227] By controlling other non-inventive process parameters well knownto those skilled in the art, the inventive base stocks and base oils asdescribed by the inventive process herein can be made over a range oflow to high viscosity oils as is typical in the industry thus allowingfor blending of base stocks with a final viscosity between those two endpoints. In this example, the base stocks were manufactured using theinventive method to a higher viscosity level of 6.6 cSt and a lowerviscosity level of 4.0 cSt. For this example, as may be seen in table 4,the Inventive Oil A was then blended to two viscometric targets: 4.0 cStand 5.7 cSt. Similarly, the Inventive Oil B for this example was madefrom a Fischer-Tropsch wax, blended to final viscosity targets of 4.0cSt and 6.3 cSt. The Comparitive Oils for this example are commerciallyavailable base stocks blended to viscometric targets of 4 cSt, 5 cSt and8 cSt.

[0228] Viscometric properties of Inventive base oils A and B and theComparative Base Oil 1 at comparable viscosity indices are shown below(Table 4). The Kinematic Viscosities were measured by ASTM method D445.The measured CCS viscosity were found by using ASTM method D5293. TheTheoretical Viscosity were calculated per the Walther/MacCoull Equationas found in ASTM D341 (Appendix 1). For this example, and as shown inFIG. 2, the linear Theoretical Viscosity line for each oil of interestwas determined from the kinematic viscosities taken at 40C and 100C. Thecalculated Noack Volatilites were made by the equation:Noack(calc)=−6.882Ln(CCS@−35C)+67.647.

[0229] The ratio between measured and theoretical viscosity (i.e.ratio=measured/theoretical) at −30C or below is less than 1.2 for theInventive Base Oils, but is higher than 1.2 for the Comparative BaseOils at the same temperatures. Measured Noack volatility for these basestocks and base oils is also shown, and compared to the CALCULATED Noackvolatility limit of this invention recite herein (above). The base oilsA and B clearly show measured Noack volatility below the calculatedlimit, whereas the comparative base oil 1 exceeds the calculated Noackvolatility limit. TABLE 4 Base Stocks and Properties Comparative BaseOil Inventive Base Oil Comp. Comp. Comp. Oil A Oil A Oil B Oil B Oil OilOil 4 cSt 5.7 cSt 4 cSt 6.3 cSt 14 cSt 15 cSt 18 cSt Viscosity 142 150143 153 142 146 146 Index Kinematic Viscosity, ASTM D445 at 100 C., cSt4 5.7 3.8 6.30 4.0 5.1 8.0 at 40 C., cSt 16.8 28.4 15.3 31.8 16.5 24.146.3 CCS Viscosity (Measured), ASTM D5293 at −30 C., cP TLTM 2506 6802630 1160 2270 8000 at −35 C., cP 1354 4499 1140 4670 2440 4620 THTMTheoretical Viscosity (Walther/MacCoull Eq.) at −30 C., cP 894 2439 7222806 866 1877 6056 at −35 C., cP 1515 4364 1206 5019 1466 3329 11340Viscosity Ratio, measured/theoretical at −30 C., cP — 1.03 0.94 0.941.34 1.21 1.32 at −35 C., cP 0.89 1.03 0.94 0.93 1.66 1.39 — Noack 159.7 16.4 4.5 14.8 10.5 — Volatility, wt % CALCULATE D Noack 18 9.8 18.06.5 14.0 9.6 3.4 Volatility Limit, wt %

[0230] It has similarly been observed that the inventive base stockshave a much lower scanning-brookfield viscosity (ASTM D5133) values atlow temperature (below −20C). Scanning brookfield viscosity measurementsare performed at much lower shear rates, and slower cooling rates thanthe D5293 CCS technique. In the particular example illustrate in table4, the inventive base stocks ratios of (measured/theoreticallypredicted) viscosity ranges between 2.5 (@−20C) and 7 (@−35C), while thecomparable commercially available base stock, with similar viscosity andVI, has a ratio ranging between 11 (@−20C), and 63 (@−25C), and itsviscosity is to high to be measured below −25C.

[0231] The viscosity-temperature performance for the Comparative BaseOil and the Inventive Base Oil are also demonstrably different over arange of base oil viscosity, as measured by kinematic viscosity at 100C.At comparable kinematic viscosity at 100C and Noack volatility, it isevident that the Inventive Base Oil has superior (i.e. lower)low-temperature viscosity than that of comparative base oil 1, attemperatures such as, for example, −30C and −35C (Table 5 and FIG. 4).TABLE 5 Base Oil CCS Low-Temperature Viscosity at Comparable KinematicViscosity and Volatility Inventive Comparative Base Oil A Base Oil 14-6.6 cSt Mixtures 4-8 cSt Mixtures CCS @ − CCS @ − CCS @ − CCS @ − KV @100 C, 30 C 35 C 30 C 35 C cSt cP cP cP cP 4.0 857 1445 1524 2798 4.61282 2214 2032 3713 6.0 2830 5120 3600 6700

[0232] The wax derived base stocks that are used in the examples offormulated lubricant compositions of this invention span a kinematicviscosity range from 3.9 cSt to 6.8 cSt at 100C. Suitable combinationsof these base stocks and base oils satisfy the base oil descriptions forthe inventive base oil compositions recited herein.

[0233] For inventive lubricant composition examples 1, 2 and 3, allformulations are made with the same additive package, which meets theengine test requirements of ACEA A3-02/B3-98, added to the sameinventive base oils as detailed in the first example. The comparativeexamples were made with the same additive package blended into the samecommercially available base oils as in the first example. Theformulations for this example were developed such that the correspondinginventive/comparative pairs would have the same base oil viscosity, andhave similar Noack volatility performance. All formulations are blendedas lubricant products targeting SAE 0W-30 grade viscometricspecifications. The Inventive base oils are compared to Comparative BaseOil 1. Both the Inventive base oils and the Comparative Base Oil 1 haveviscosity indices>140, and pour points<−15C. Three different viscositymodifiers are used.

[0234] The Inventive base oils provide a formulated lubricantcomposition which meets the requirements of volatility defined by ACEAA3-O₂/B3-98, and the CCS viscosity at −35C as currently defined by SAEJ300 (Table 1). The Comparative Base Oil 1, while meeting the samelimits for volatility, is significantly higher in CCS viscosity and iswell above the maximum CCS viscosity limit for the SAE 0W-30 gradespecification (Table 6). TABLE 6 Inventive and Comparative ExamplesInventive Examples Comparative Examples 1 2 3 CE. 1 CE. 2 CE. 3Formulated Lubricant Composition (wt %) Inventive Base Oil A (4 & 6.6cSt blend) 71.1 80.4 Inventive Base Oil B (4 & 6 cSt blend) 66.3Comparative Base Oil 1 (4 & 5 cSt blend) 71.1 80.4 66.3 PerformanceAdditive Package 1 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.7 Viscosity Modifier 1(SICP 15 15 block) Viscosity Modifier 2 (SICP) 5.7 5.7 ViscosityModifier 3 (SICP 20 20 block) Pour Point Depressant 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2Properties SAE OW-30 Limit Kinematic Viscosity @ 100 C., 9.3-12.5 10.610.8 12.3 10.5 10.7 12.3 cSt cSt CCS Viscosity @ −35 C., cP 6200 cP 54645724 5980 7656 8674 9840 max Noack Volatility, wt % 13 wt % 12 12 12 1111 12 max

[0235] The beneficial property of inventive base stocks and base oils toadvantageously lower CCS viscosity of formulated lubricant compositionsand products extends across a wide temperature range, not only below−30C, but also significantly above −30C. For example, the table belowdemonstrates that there is a CCS viscosity benefit (i.e. lower CCSviscosity) at −20C and at −25C for a formulation using Inventive baseoil relative to a comparable formulation using Comparative Base Oil 1instead. The CCS viscosity benefit difference for formulated lubricantbased on Inventive base oil (Example 4) compared to Comparative Base Oil1 (Comparative Example 4) becomes greater as the temperature decreases(Table 7). TABLE 7 CCS Viscosity Change and Formulated LubricantsInventive Comparative Example Example 4 CE. 4 Formulated LubricantComposition (wt %) Inventive Base Oil A 50 (4 & 6.6 cSt blend)Comparative Base Oil 1 50 (5 cSt) Group 1 Base Stock 13.8 13.8Performance Additive Package 2 23 23 Viscosity Modifier 1 (SICP) 13.213.2 Properties Kinematic Viscosity @ 100 C, cSt 13.62 13.65 CCSViscosity @ −20 C, cP 2870 3200 CCS Viscosity @ −25 C, cP 5130 6280

What is claimed is:
 1. A base stock or base oil comprising theproperties of: (a) a viscosity index (VI) of about 130 or greater, (b) apour point of about −10C or lower, (c) a ratio ofmeasured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosity equal to about 1.2 orless, at a temperature of about −30C or lower, where the measuredviscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and where theoreticalviscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation, wherein said base stock or base oil is not aGroup IV base stock or base oil.
 2. A base stock or base oil comprisingthe properties of: (a) a viscosity index (VI) of about 130 or greater,(b) a pour point of about −10C or lower, (c) a ratio ofmeasured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosity equal to about 1.2 orless, at a temperature of about −30C or lower, where the measuredviscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and where theoreticalviscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation, and (d) a percent Noack volatility no greaterthan that calculated by the formula −6.882Ln(CCS@−35C)+67.647, whereCCS@−35C is the base oil CCS viscosity in centipoise, tested at −35C,and that value as used in the equation is less than 5500 cP, and whereinsaid base stock or base oil is not a Group IV base stock or base oil. 3.A base stock or base oil with a VI of at least 130 produced by a processwhich comprises: (1) hydrotreating a feedstock having a wax content ofat least about 60 wt. %, based on feedstock, with a hydrotreatingcatalyst under effective hydrotreating conditions such that less than 5wt. % of the feedstock is converted to 6500F (343° C.) minus products toproduce a hydrotreated feedstock whose VI increase is less than 4greater than the VI of the feedstock; (2) stripping the hydrotreatedfeedstock to separate gaseous from liquid product; and (3) hydrodewaxingthe liquid product with a dewaxing catalyst which is at least one ofZSM-48, ZSM-57, ZSM-23, ZSM-22, ZSM-35, ferrierite, ECR-42, ITQ-13,MCM-71, MCM-68, beta, fluorided alumina, silica-alumina or fluoridedsilica alumina under catalytically effective hydrodewaxing conditionswherein the dewaxing catalyst contains at least one Group 9 or Group 10noble metal.
 4. A base stock or base oil with a VI of at least 130produced by a process which comprises: (1) hydrotreating a feedstockhaving a wax content of at least about 50 wt. %, based on feedstock,with a hydrotreating catalyst under effective hydrotreating conditionssuch that less than 5 wt. % of the feedstock is converted to 650° F.(343° C.) minus products to produce a hydrotreated feedstock to producea hydrotreated feedstock whose VI increase is less than 4 greater thanthe VI of the feedstock; (2) stripping the hydrotreated feedstock toseparate gaseous from liquid product; (3) hydrodewaxing the liquidproduct with a dewaxing catalyst which is at least one of ZSM-22,ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ferrierite, ZSM-48, ZSM-57, ECR-42, ITQ-13, MCM-68,MCM-71, beta, fluorided alumina, silica-alumina or fluoridedsilica-alumina under catalytically effective hydrodewaxing conditionswherein the dewaxing catalyst contains at least one Group 9 or 10 noblemetal; and (4) hydrofinishing the product from step (3) with amesoporous hydrofinishing catalyst from the M41S family underhydrofinishing conditions.
 5. A base stock or base oil with a VI of atleast 130 produced by a process which comprises: (1) hydrotreating afeedstock having a wax content of at least about 60 wt. %, based onfeedstock, with a hydrotreating catalyst under effective hydrotreatingconditions such that less than 5 wt. % of the feedstock is converted to650° F. (343° C.) minus products to produce a hydrotreated feedstock toproduce a hydrotreated feedstock whose VI increase is less than 4greater than the VI of the feedstock; (2) stripping the hydrotreatedfeedstock to separate gaseous from liquid product; (3) hydrodewaxing theliquid product with a dewaxing catalyst which is ZSM-48 undercatalytically effective hydrodewaxing conditions wherein the dewaxingcatalyst contains at least one Group 9 or 10 noble metal; and (4)Optionally, hydrofinishing the product from step (3) with MCM-41 underhydrofinishing conditions.
 6. The process as in claim 3, 4, or 5 whereinsaid feedstock is a synthetic gas to liquid feedstock.
 7. The process asin claims 3, 4, or 5 wherein said feedstock is made by a Fischer-Tropschprocess. 8 A lubricant comprising the base stock or base oil of claims1, 2, 3, 4 or
 5. 9. A lubricant comprising the base stock or base oil ofclaims 1, 2, 3, 4 or
 5. and at least one performance enhancing additive.10. A lubricant comprising a base stock or base oil, said base stock orbase oil having the properties of: (a) a viscosity index (VI) of about130 or greater, (b) a pour point of about −10C or lower, (c) a ratio ofmeasured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosity equal to about 1.2 orless, at a temperature of about −30C or lower, where the measuredviscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosity and where theoreticalviscosity is calculated at the same temperature using theWalther-MacCoull equation. wherein said base stock or base oil is not aGroup IV base stock or base oil.
 11. A lubricant comprising a base stockor base oil, said base stock or base oil having the properties of: (a) aviscosity index (VI) of about 130 or greater, (b) a pour point of about−10C or lower, (c) a ratio of measured-to-theoretical low-temperatureviscosity equal to about 1.2 or less, at a temperature of about −30C orlower, where the measured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosityand where theoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperatureusing the Walther-MacCoull equation, and (d) a percent Noack volatilityno greater than that calculated by the formula−6.882Ln(CCS@−35C)+67.647, where CCS@−35C is the base oil CCS viscosityin centipoise, tested at −35C, and that value as used in the equation isless than 5500 cP, and wherein said base stock or base oil is not aGroup IV base stock or base oil.
 12. A lubricating comprising at leastone base stock or base oil wherein said base stock or base oil has a VIof at least 130 produced by a process which comprises: (1) hydrotreatinga feedstock having a wax content of at least about 60 wt. %, based onfeedstock, with a hydrotreating catalyst under effective hydrotreatingconditions such that less than 5 wt. % of the feedstock is converted to6500F (343° C.) minus products to produce a hydrotreated feedstock whoseVI increase is less than 4 greater than the VI of the feedstock; (2)stripping the hydrotreated feedstock to separate gaseous from liquidproduct; and (3) hydrodewaxing the liquid product with a dewaxingcatalyst which is at least one of ZSM-48, ZSM-57, ZSM-23, ZSM-22,ZSM-35, ferrierite, ECR-42, ITQ-13, MCM-71, MCM-68, beta, fluoridedalumina, silica-alumina or fluorided silica alumina under catalyticallyeffective hydrodewaxing conditions wherein the dewaxing catalystcontains at least one Group 9 or Group 10 noble metal.
 13. A lubricantcomprising at least one base stock or base oil wherein said base stockhas a VI of at least 130 produced by a process which comprises: (1)hydrotreating a lubricating oil feedstock having a wax content of atleast about 50 wt. %, based on feedstock, with a hydrotreating catalystunder effective hydrotreating conditions such that less than 5 wt. % ofthe feedstock is converted to 650° F. (343° C.) minus products toproduce a hydrotreated feedstock to produce a hydrotreated feedstockwhose VI increase is less than 4 greater than the VI of the feedstock;(2) stripping the hydrotreated feedstock to separate gaseous from liquidproduct; (3) hydrodewaxing the liquid product with a dewaxing catalystwhich is at least one of ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ferrierite, ZSM-48,ZSM-57, ECR-42, ITQ-13, MCM-68, MCM-71, beta, fluorided alumina,silica-alumina or fluorided silica-alumina under catalytically effectivehydrodewaxing conditions wherein the dewaxing catalyst contains at leastone Group 9 or 10 noble metal; and (4) hydrofinishing the product fromstep (3) with a mesoporous hydrofinishing catalyst from the M41S familyunder hydrofinishing conditions.
 14. A lubricant comprising at least onebase stock wherein said base stock has a VI of at least 130 produced bya process which comprises: (1) hydrotreating a lubricating oil feedstockhaving a wax content of at least about 60 wt. %, based on feedstock,with a hydrotreating catalyst under effective hydrotreating conditionssuch that less than 5 wt. % of the feedstock is converted to 650° F.(343° C.) minus products to produce a hydrotreated feedstock to producea hydrotreated feedstock whose VI increase is less than 4 greater thanthe VI of the feedstock; (2) stripping the hydrotreated feedstock toseparate gaseous from liquid product; (3) hydrodewaxing the liquidproduct with a dewaxing catalyst which is ZSM-48 under catalyticallyeffective hydrodewaxing conditions wherein the dewaxing catalystcontains at least one Group 9 or 10 noble metal; and (4) Optionally,hydrofinishing the product from step (3) with MCM-41 underhydrofinishing conditions.
 15. The lubricant as in claim 12, 13 or 14wherein said feedstock is a synthetic gas to liquid feedstock.
 16. Thelubricant as in claims 12, 13 or 14 wherein said feedstock is made by aFischer-Tropsch process.
 17. A lubricant composition comprising the baseoil or base stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein theCCS viscosity is less than or equal to about 7000 at −25C and the NoackVolatitlity is less than or equal to about 15 wt %.
 18. A lubricantcomposition comprising the base oil or base stock of any one of theclaims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity is less than or equalto about 6600 at −30C and the Noack Volatitlity is less than or equal toabout 15 wt %.
 19. A lubricant composition comprising the base oil orbase stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the CCSviscosity is less than or equal to about 6200 at −35C and the NoackVolatitlity is less than or equal to about 15 wt %.
 20. A lubricantcomposition comprising the base oil or base stock of any one of theclaims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity is less than or equalto about 7000 at −25C and the Noack Volatitlity is less than or equal toabout 13 wt %.
 21. A lubricant composition comprising the base oil orbase stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the CCSviscosity is less than or equal to about 6600 at −30C and the NoackVolatitlity is less than or equal to about 13 wt %.
 22. A lubricantcomposition comprising the base oil or base stock of any one of theclaims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity is less than or equalto about 6200 at −35C and the Noack Volatitlity is less than or equal toabout 13 wt %.
 23. A viscosity modifier solution comprising a viscositymodifier blended into the base stock of base oil of any one of theclaims 1, 2, 3, 4 or
 5. 24. An additive concentrate comprising the basestock or base oil of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or
 5. 25. Themethod of making a lubricant comprising incorporating a base stock orbase oil having the properties of (a) a viscosity index (VI) of 130 orgreater, (b) a pour point of −10C or lower, (c) a ratio ofmeasured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosity equal to 1.2 or less,at a temperature of −30C or lower, where the measured viscosity iscold-crank simulator viscosity and where theoretical viscosity iscalculated at the same temperature using the Walther-MacCoull equation.wherein said base stock or base oil is not a Group IV base stock or baseoil.
 26. The method of making a lubricant comprising incorporating abase stock or base oil having the properties of (a) a viscosity index(VI) of 130 or greater, (b) a pour point of −10C or lower, (c) a ratioof measured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosity equal to 1.2 orless, at a temperature of −30C or lower, where the measured viscosity iscold-crank simulator viscosity and where theoretical viscosity iscalculated at the same temperature using the Walther-MacCoull equation,and (d) a percent Noack volatility no greater than that calculated bythe formula −6.882Ln(CCS@−35C)+67.647, where CCS@−35C is the base oilCCS viscosity in centipoise, tested at −35C, and that value as used inthe equation is less than 5500 cP, and wherein said base stock or baseoil is not a Group IV base stock or base oil.
 27. The method of makingan additive concentrate incorporating a base stock or base oil havingthe properties of (a) a viscosity index (VI) of 130 or greater, (b) apour point of −10C or lower, (c) a ratio of measured-to-theoreticallow-temperature viscosity equal to 1.2 or less, at a temperature of −30Cor lower, where the measured viscosity is cold-crank simulator viscosityand where theoretical viscosity is calculated at the same temperatureusing the Walther-MacCoull equation. wherein said base stock or base oilis not a Group IV base stock or base oil.
 28. The method of making anadditive concentrate comprising incorporating a base stock or base oilhaving the properties of (a) a viscosity index (VI) of 130 or greater,(b) a pour point of −10C or lower, (c) a ratio ofmeasured-to-theoretical low-temperature viscosity equal to 1.2 or less,at a temperature of −30C or lower, where the measured viscosity iscold-crank simulator viscosity and where theoretical viscosity iscalculated at the same temperature using the Walther-MacCoull equation,and (d) a percent Noack volatility no greater than that calculated bythe formula −6.882Ln(CCS@−35C)+67.647, where CCS@−35C is the base oilCCS viscosity in centipoise, tested at −35C, and that value as used inthe equation is less than 5500 cP, and wherein said base stock or baseoil is not a Group IV base stock or base oil.
 29. The method of makingan additive concentrate comprising incorporating a base stock or baseoil of any one of the claims 3, 4 or
 5. 30. The method of making alubricant comprising incorporating said additive concentrate of eitherclaim 27 or
 28. 31. The method of making a lubricant comprisingincorporating an additive concentrate comprising incorporating a basestock or base oil of any one of the claims 3, 4 or
 5. 32. A method ofimproving the CCS viscosity of a base stock comprising incorporatingsaid base stock or base oil of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.33. A method of improving the CCS viscosity of a lubricant comprisingincorporating a base stock or base oil of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3,4 or
 5. 34. A method of reducing the Noack volatility of a base stockcomprising incorporating a base stock or base oil of any one of theclaims 1, 2, 3, 4 or
 5. 35. A method of reducing the Noack volatility ofa lubricant comprising incorporating a base stock or base oil of any oneof the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or
 5. 36. A method of improving a lubricant byadmixing the base oil or base stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity of the final mixture is less than orequal to about 7000 at −25C and the Noack Volatility is less than orequal to about 15 wt %.
 37. A method of improving a lubricant byadmixing the base oil or base stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity of the final mixture is less than orequal to about 6600 at −30C and the Noack Volatility is less than orequal to about 15 wt %.
 38. A method of improving a lubricant byadmixing the base oil or base stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity of the final mixture is less than orequal to about 6200 at −35C and the Noack Volatility is less than orequal to about 15 wt %.
 39. A method of improving a lubricant byadmixing the base oil or base stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity of the final mixture is less than orequal to about 7000 at −25C and the Noack Volatility is less than orequal to about 13 wt %.
 40. A method of improving a lubricant byadmixing the base oil or base stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity of the final mixture is less than orequal to about 6600 at −30C and the Noack Volatitlity is less than orequal to about 13 wt %.
 41. A method of improving a lubricant byadmixing the base oil or base stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4or 5, wherein the CCS viscosity of the final mixture is less than orequal to about 6200 at −35C and the Noack Volatitlity is less than orequal to about 13 wt %.
 42. A method of reducing the viscosity of aviscosity modifier solution by dispersing said solution in the base oilor base stock of any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.